$154,050

Representative Howard Berman is a Democrat from California's 26th District which covers much of Hollywood. He also sits on the House Judiciary Committee and chairs the intellectual property sub-committee. This week, he co-sponsored the "PRO IP Act of 2007" which would significantly increase the penalties for copyright infringement. It would also create a new bureaucratic position called the "White House Intellectual Property Representative" which would serve the interests of the entertainment lobby which, accordingly, applauded the bill.

Which brings me to that titular figure of $154,050. Mr. Berman, who I've previously covered, received that amount of money from the entertainment lobby in the fiscal year ending in 2006. This extraordinary amount from a such a single-minded group is nothing new for Mr. Berman who has received such financial support annually. And annually he has worked to expand copyright's restrictions.

Thank goodness we have Lessig on the case.

For Representative Berman's financial accounts, see here.

For more on the bill, see here.