Microsoft Lobbied for Immigration Reform
Monday April 7, 7:32 pm ET
Microsoft Spent $9 Million As Part of Push for More Visas, Education Funding, Patent Reform

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. spent $9 million in 2007 to lobby for immigration and patent reforms, tax credits and cybersecurity among numerous other matters.
The software company spent $4.2 million in the second half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form posted online Feb. 13 by the Senate's public records office. It lobbied on government purchases of software, including electronic health products, cybersecurity for critical infrastructures, high-speed Internet issues, online advertising and free trade agreements.

Chairman Bill Gates has repeatedly implored Congress to spend more money on math and science education and grant more visas to highly skilled foreign workers. Microsoft also wants a critical research tax credit extended. Without these changes, the U.S. technology industry says its will fall behind global competitors.

Besides Congress, the Redmond, Wash.-based company lobbied the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, Defense and Commerce departments and numerous other agencies.

Barry LaSala, former counsel to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, was among those registered to lobby for the company.

Microsoft spent nearly $4.8 million in the first six months of 2007 to lobby on similar matters.

Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.



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