000918.txt Kohl adds to criticism of violence in the entertainment industry By Melanie Fonder For The News-Chronicle WASHINGTON - Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., testified at highly publicized Senate hearing about the entertainment industry marketing violent materials to children. Kohl said during a recent spot check of Washington area video game retailers, 12-year-old children were easily able to purchase "ultra-violent video games" even though they had ratings that indicated the content was for "adults only." "Too many video game companies flagrantly flout their own ratings system, too many game-makers peddle violent products to young children and too many retailers look the other way," Kohl told the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "These companies are irresponsible corporate citizens. They have earned the worst track record in the entertainment industry, and we should all think twice about buying their products until they start behaving." The hearing was held after the release of a Federal Trade Commission report tracking the industry's marketing practices for a year. While several high-profile legislators urged for action on a bill that would require the entertainment industry to clearly label items for violent content, the only entertainment executive to testify was Jack Valenti of the Motion Picture Association of America. Several others had been invited, but did not attend. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the committee, scheduled another hearing for Sept. 27, where he said he has invited the chief executive of every major Hollywood entertainment company, including Time Warner, Walt Disney Co. and News Corp. "I can only conclude the industry was too ashamed of, or unable to defend their marketing practices," McCain said. "Their hubris is stunning." Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Vice President Al Gore's running mate, along with Lynne Cheney, wife of GOP vice presidential nominee Richard Cheney and a former chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, both testified. Each has been a vocal critic of Hollywood. JUSTICE MONEY A feud over speaking fees erupted last week between Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, a Milwaukee native. A provision in a pending Senate appropriations bills would lift a ban on honoraria - speaking fees - for federal judges appointed for life, but Obey told The Washington Post it would "pass over my dead body." Rehnquist then released a statement that a judicial raise should be instated to keep up with inflation. "If Supreme Court justices can't get by on their salaries without talking to special interest groups (for fees), they should resign," Obey told the Post. GOLDEN MILK Kohl was the recipient of the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union for his work on family farm agriculture, specifically his efforts to provide emergency assistance for dairy farmers. "Protecting Wisconsin's dairy industry has been one of my top priorities since I took office," Kohl said of the award. GORE DAUGHTER VISITS MADISON Karenna Gore Schiff, Gore's eldest daughter, is scheduled to speak Tuesday at a campaign rally at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The event is free and open to the public. Schiff speaks at the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., at approximately 4:30 p.m. This column by Fonder, a staff writer for The Hill, a Washington-based weekly newspaper that covers Congress, appears every Monday in the News-Chronicle. You can email her with comments at melfonder@yahoo.com.