I have been sending out copies of the following sent to me by a friend in DC, Just in case we were wondering who are elected officials work for. Mouse Droppings By Bill McAllister Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, October 15, 1998; Page A21 There were more than the usual mouse tracks around Capitol Hill last week after the House and Senate completed action on legislation extending U.S. copyrights for another 20 years. But the Walt Disney Co. had made certain that key members of the House and Senate especially knew about the possible plight of Mickey, Pluto and Goofy. Under existing copyright law, Mickey's copyright will expire in 2003, Pluto's in 2006 and Goofy's in 2008, and that would end Disney's claim to royalties on some of the most valuable assets in its movie vaults. So last summer, Disney imported its chief executive, Michael D. Eisner, to pitch Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on extending the copyrights. "We generally don't talk about our lobbying plans," said Disney spokesman Thomas J. Deegan, but he acknowledged that Alan K. Ota, a Congressional Quarterly reporter, had scored a coup when he spotted Eisner at Lott's office June 9. Hill staff members said that other Disney representatives, along with other movie industry representatives, had made strong pleas for a 20-year extension to all copyrights. And the Center for Responsive Politics noted that a week after his meeting with Eisner, Lott agreed to co-sponsor the copyright extension legislation. That same day, Disney's political action committee made a $1,000 contribution to Lott's campaign committee, CPR added, and on June 25, Disney gave $20,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. It's doubtful, however, that any lawmakers will be taping "I'm Going to Disney World" TV spots as they depart Washington this week. Kino International Corporation 333 W. 39th St. Suite 503 New York, NY 10018 (212)629-6880 fax: Kino International Corporation 333 W. 39th St. Suite 503 New York, NY 10018 (212)629-6880 fax: (212)714-0871 ---- To sign off SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]