Some associations have ramped up their lobbying this year, reporting record or near-record spending on their disclosure forms to Congress. Biggest jump: The American Medical Association, which reported spending $12.4 million between April 1 and June 30, the group's highest quarterly total ever. The group reported $18.8 million of lobbying expenditures for all of 2014.

Business Roundtable also reported record lobbying costs of $6.4 million for the second quarter of 2015. The group had topped $6 million for a quarter just twice before, in 2008 and 2009. The National Association of Manufacturers $4.8 million, its highest quarterly total since 2009.

More than two dozen trade groups and professional societies reported spending $1 million or more in the second quarter of 2015. Disclosure forms were due July 20.

Some of the biggest lobbying groups cut back in a year without elections. These typically are groups that include all advocacy spending in their lobbying totals, as they do on tax returns. But many groups only report more direct lobbying of congressional offices and certain administration officials, as allowed by the lobbying disclosure law.

Leading the pack, as usual, was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at $17.9 million. That's less than it spent in the second quarter of 2014 ($21.6 million) but more than 2013 ($14 million). The Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform reported spending another $5.1 million in the second quarter.

The National Association of Realtors, another group active in local, state and national politics, reported spending $8.2 million in Q2, half the amount of spending in Q2 of 2014.

Most unusual, Realtors were outspent in the second quarter by the American Medical Association. AMA and other physician groups have long sought to repeal the payment formula for Medicare, and that battle was finally won in mid-April. But a long list of issues still remains before Congress and regulators, including new payment rules, telemedicine, medical codes and others.

Other top Q2 spenders include Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America at $4.8 million; American Hospital Association, also $4.8 million; National Association of Broadcasters, $4.2 million; National Cable and Telecommunications Association, $3 million; American Bankers Association, $2.6 million; Grocery Manufacturers Association, $2.4 million; American Chemistry Council, $2.4 million; Edison Electric Institute, $2.3 million; Biotechnology Industry Association, $2.1 million; American Petroleum Institute, $2 million; and Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, $1.9 million.

PhRMA, AHA, NCTA, BIO and API all use the more restrictive definition of lobbying on their disclosure forms.

Spending by CTIA—The Wireless Association fell to $1.8 million in Q2, compared with $3.1 million from January through March 2015.

The Q2 total for another top spender, America's Health Insurance Plans, was not yet available. AHIP reported $2.8 million on its Q1 disclosure form.

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