Wal-Mart spent $1.9 million in Q1 lobbying

New York City Wal-Mart Stores spent $1.9 million lobbying in the first quarter on a wide range of issues from credit-card reform to organized crime and food safety issues, according to a recent disclosure report.

That's above the $1.8 million spent in fourth quarter 2009 and a tad below the $2 million spent in first quarter 2009.

The company also lobbied on tariff bills on artificial flowers as well as legislation involving clean energy matters and derivative issues as part of the Wall Street Reform Act in January through March, according to the form it filed April 19 with the House clerk's office.

One of the highest-profile issues Wal-Mart monitored was the Credit CARD act, which is meant to give credit-card users more information and stop policies widely considered abusive. The bulk of the law -- which focuses on "credit card accountability, responsibility and disclosure" -- kicked in February.

Wal-Mart has been making steps toward environmental sustainability such as cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Its efforts are ahead of climate legislation that's being debated in Congress that would require companies to reduce emissions and take other steps.

Wal-Mart said in February that it wants its suppliers to reduce the greenhouse gases they produce by 20 million metric tons by the end of 2015. It earlier announced an effort to reduce its own emissions by designing more energy-efficient stores and pursuing alternative fuels for its trucks.