MPAA hires GOP veteran as lobbyist

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The Motion Picture Association of America has hired a Republican Washington insider to run its communications department, The Hollywood Reporter said Friday.

MPAA President and CEO Dan Glickman appointed John Feehery to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief communications officer.

Feehery has worked for a number of Republicans on Capitol Hill over the past 15 years, most recently as spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert. He has previously worked for former House Republican Leader Bob Michael and Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

The Reporter said the hiring of Feehery "could help show that the motion picture industry isn't anti-GOP."

Richard Taylor, the MPAA's chief spokesman under former head Jack Valenti, was named to another newly created position as senior vice president for external affairs and education.