ESA PAC Starts Slowly with Few Funds

The ESA’s political campaign contributions is far from meeting its stated goal of $50,000.

In January, Entertainment Software Association President Mike Gallagher announced that his organization would be forming a political action committee (PAC) for the games industry to contribute funds to political campaigns. He hoped to raise and send out at least $50,000 by the end of 2008.

As of April 15th, only $4,300 has been disbursed to three candidates:

• Rep. Jim Clyburn D-SC, $1,000
• Rep. Artur Davis D-AL, $1,000
• Rep. Mary Bono Mack R-CA, $2,300

The lack of donations is largely due to low fundraising from industry insiders, the PAC’s financial backbone.

Six individuals have given thus far a total of $27,500:

• Robbie Bach (Microsoft), $2,500
• Mike Gallagher (ESA), $5,000
• Laurent Detoc (Ubisoft), $5,000
• Ben Feder (Take-Two), $5,000
• Graham Hopper (Disney), $5,000
• Hiroshi Tobisawa (Capcom USA), $5,000

Source: GamePolitics