Top Lobbyist Leaves Videogame Group
The Entertainment Software Association's head of government relations, Jennifer Manner, is out the door after just a month. ESA announced on Feb. 18, 2009, that Manner would be the group's new senior vice president for government affairs and would head the association's federal and state government relations team. Manner, a long-time Democrat, didn't appear to have extensive Capitol Hill or administration experience. Her background included stints as a vice president of regulatory affairs at Skyterra Communications, chair of the Satellite Industry Association, and senior counsel to former FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy. She has also worked for Worldcom, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, and taught as an adjust professor of law. ESA is not advertising any new job openings on its Web site. An association spokesman confirmed that Manner had departed but gave no further information.
In 2007, ESA brought on former Motion Picture Association of America executive Rich Taylor, and in 2008, it wooed Recording Industry Association of America lawyer Kenneth Doroshow. Both are also Democrats. The group's executive director is Michael Gallagher, a former assistant secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush. A recent CongressDaily story (subscription required) reported that ESA spent $980,000 per quarter in 2008 on lobbying-related activities. Efforts focused on a range of issues from media violence and parental control technologies to industry ratings and videogame sale regulation. Lobbyists also spent time advocating for increased intellectual property protection. -- Winter Casey
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