Sony Electronics Spent $240,000 To Lobby In 1Q

Sony Electronics Inc. spent $240,000 in the first quarter to lobby the U.S. government on product safety legislation, H-1B visa reform and other issues. The company, part of Japan’s Sony Corp., also lobbied on the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting, energy efficiency standards for consumer electronics and waste issues.

In addition, Sony Electronics lobbied on customs regulation, as well as on duties and trade measures, according to a disclosure form filed April 21 with the House clerk’s office.

Besides Congress, the company lobbied the Federal Communications Commission, Commerce Department, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies in the first three months of the year.

Among those registered to lobby for the company were: Joel Wiginton, who served as special assistant to the president for legislative affairs in the Clinton White House, and chief counsel and staff director to the Senate Judiciary Committee; James Morgan, a former Justice Department and FCC intern; and Christina Mulvihill, a former staffer who worked for Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., John Mica, R-Fla., and Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.