Northrop paid lobbyist $60K in 2007

WASHINGTON --Military contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. paid $60,000 to Patrick Tucker in the first half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.

Tucker lobbied on U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs, according to the form posted online Tuesday by the Senate's public records office.

Los Angeles-based Northrop is one of the nation's largest shipbuilders. In 2006, it earned about $5.3 billion in shipbuilding revenue, although that is down about 7 percent from the prior year.

In recent months, U.S. lawmakers and the Navy have been cracking down on ballooning costs on some shipbuilding programs. Navy officials have also said they're going to reassert control over the entire acquisition process as a way to control costs.

That could affect Northrop and other major shipbuilders, such as General Dynamics Corp., whose shipbuilding divisions have lagged in earnings compared with their aerospace divisions, analysts said.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.