[Am-info] Microsoft's Campaign Contributions

[Mitch Stone]

Rose from $3,800 in 1990 to $4.6 million in 2000.

=
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.asp?ID=3DD000000115&Name=3DMicroso=
ft+Corp

Microsoft Corp

Microsoft Corp is the world=92s top computer software company. It is =
also=20
one of the biggest campaign contributors in Washington=97an astounding =
fact=20
when you consider that Microsoft is a relatively new player on the=20
political scene. Prior to 1998, the company and its employees gave=20
virtually nothing in terms of political contributions. But when the=20
Justice Department launched an antitrust investigation into the =
company=92s=20
marketing of its popular Windows software, things changed. The company=20=

opened a Washington lobbying office, founded a political action =
committee=20
and soon became one of the most generous political givers in the =
country.=20
The move eventually galvanized an entire industry, as computer and=20
Internet companies quickly moved to emulate Microsoft=92s political =
savvy.