'R' for rejected

House his nix labeling pix by 266-161

By CHRISTOPHER STERN

WASHINGTON -- For the second day in a row, Congress rejected by overwhelming margins tough new proposals aimed at reducing the amount of violence produced by the entertainment industry.

The House voted 266-161 against legislation that would have required the videogame, film and television industries to create a common labeling system for violent material. On Wednesday, the House voted against tough restrictions on the sale of violent and sexual material to minors.

But it was not a perfect day for industry lobbyists, who saw the House vote in favor of a "sense of the Congress" resolution that is highly critical of the producers of violent entertainment. In addition, the House supported a proposal calling on the surgeon general to investigate the impact of violent entertainment on kids.

But the setbacks seemed minor compared to the victory over the "universal labeling" measure. That proposal called on the Federal Trade Commission to step in and impose a government-mandated rating method if the entertainment industry failed to heed the congressional directive to create a common labeling system. Legislators on both sides of the aisle said the measure, sponsored by Reps. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) and Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), went too far.

The proposal not only required the FTC to create a rating system, it also mandated that the entertainment industry deploy it. In addition, it banned the sale of unlabeled material; violators would have been liable for a $10,000 fine.

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), who lead the opposition against the proposal said it would have put the government in the tricky position of deciding what material is too violent for kids. Effectively, Conyers said, it would have turned the FTC into the standards and practices department for every entertainment company in the country. The measure, according to Conyers, would have created a "Politburo that (would) move much of the entertainment industry to Washington, D.C."

Industry moves

Showbiz supporters pointed out that the entertainment industry has taken several steps in the last few months in response to criticism that it is saturating the American culture with violence. The Motion Picture Assn. of America is encouraging film distributors to tone down trailers and film advertising. And Disney, noted one House member, has removed all violent videogames from its theme parks.

The legislation, which is linked to a companion bill on gun control, is the House's response to the April 20 shootings in Littleton, Colo., in which two teenagers shot 13 people before taking their own lives. The massacre is one of a string of shootings that has plagued U.S. schools in the last two years. Hollywood has been caught up in a debate over whether America's violent culture or lax gun laws are causing kids to commit these terrible acts.

MPAA president and CEO Jack Valenti touted Thursday's action by the House as a victory for the right to free speech guaranteed by the Constitution. "The vote today ... is clear evidence that creative works are indeed protected by the First Amendment," Valenti said in a statement released by the trade org. "The amendment would have mandated that the federal government have authority to construct an unworkable and costly one-size-fits-all rating system."

Other entertainment lobbyists agreed with Valenti. "It shows the system does work," said one lobbyist. "Level heads did prevail at this."

California influence

Yet another lobbyist credited the California congressional delegation for working hard against the labeling measure.

Now that the House has wrapped up its attempts to legislate against a culture of violence, it must hammer out its differences with similar Senate legislation. That conference is expected to take place later this summer and gives both sides an opportunity to rewrite the final bill on culture and gun control that is expected be sent to the White House.

"It will be a fun summer," one lobbyist said sarcastically.