WASHINGTON (AP) -- MetLife Inc. spent nearly $1.3 million in the second quarter lobbying on mortgage reform proposals and other issues, according to a recent disclosure form.

The New York City-based company lobbied on numerous housing bills proposed in Congress this year, including legislation signed into law by President Bush last month to help struggling homeowners meet their mortgage obligations.

That law is intended to prevent foreclosures by allowing homeowners to swap their mortgages for more affordable loans, but only if their banks agree to the switch and take a loss on the initial loan.

MetLife also lobbied Congress on issues such as data privacy, patent reform, insurance regulation, retirement security, pensions, taxes, and a free trade agreement with South Korea.

In the April-June quarter, the company lobbied Congress, the U.S. Trade Representative and Treasury Department, according to the form filed July 18 with the House clerk's office.

Peter Pastre, a former legislative aide to retired Sen. Alan Simpson, was among those registered to lobby for MetLife.

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