"Storm over Weather Service Initiatives" (Santorum strikes again!)

[blue neen]

Ricky is on the march for big business again (surprise, surprise).

"Sen. Rick Santorum has introduced legislation that would limit the information that the National Weather Service can provide to the public, in what the Pennsylvania Republican's aides describe as an effort to make sure that private weather companies--particularly those in his home state--can compete in the market place and retain jobs."
<snip>

"Some have criticized the legislation as a giveaway primarily intended to help Pennsylvania-based AccuWeather, whose employees have contributed to Santorum's campaign fund. But a spokeswoman for the senator dismissed that assertion as being without merit."
<snip>

"Staff members for Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from hurricane-prone Florida, said they were already working to prevent Santorum's bill from even coming out of committee. Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said that during four hurricanes last year, many Floridians depended on National Weather Service data for information that ranged beyond emergency warnings."

"'The legislation appears to be aimed at restricting or closing off a free information service for consumers and, in turn, benefiting one or two big companies that sell weather forecasts and other information," McLaughlin said."

http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/05116/494329.stm

This bill could drastically restrict free information available to the public. Santorum is trying to make himself look good to Pennsylvanians, but I'm from that state and he just keeps looking like the bumbling fool that he truly is.

[Fone Book]

1. I'm from PA too...

Santorum is a fucking idiot.

I hope everybody in our state sees just how much he cares about us.

[mongo]

2. Isn't that what the National Weather Service is for?

Providing weather information to the public?

In Amerika, I guess not. You have to pay for the weather now, or at least watch this message from our sponsor...

[blue neen]

4. Exactly.

But since this company has contributed to his campaign fund, well...

This man never does ANYTHING that is for the good of the public.

[Dr.Phool]

3. Sanitarium is a complete idiot.

He must be a Penn State graduate. Apologies to other Penn Staters, but everyone I've seen in a position of authority is an idiot. My company was taken over by a bunch of them a few years ago, and they ran it right into the ground.

[blue neen]

5. Actually, I think he is.

However, I know many Penn Staters who are wonderful, intelligent people!

Let's face it. Bush graduated from Yale, and he couldn't spell "cat" if you spotted him the "c" and the "t"! :) Some people are just born to be idiots.

[snippy]

6. How very republican. n/t

[mongo]

7. Here's my email msg to him

You plan to make some information from the national weather service available only to private companies (esp. when the interested parties are campaign contributors) - makes you no less than A BIG FAT WHORE. WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE!

[blue neen]

9. Perfect!

And true! Thanks! Pennsylvanians need support to get this ass-hat out of office.

[ClintonTyree]

8. He has no shame at all...

how could the good people of Pennsylvania elect this Carpetbagger? They have a chance to redeem themselves in '06. I hope they do the correct thing and send this mutant back to Virginia.

[blue neen]

10. Believe me, we are going to try with all of our might

to get him out of the Senate. He does nothing for this state and nothing for this country.

[unhappycamper]

11. "But private weather companies have argued that the legislation

is necessary to protect their rights in the marketplace."

They have the right to compete. Any stupid business decision can, and will, be used against them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't Tricky Rick's legislation be called "Stupid Business Plan Protection Act?"

[DemoTex]

12. AccuWeather wants to have its cake and eat it too.

They are unwilling (probably unable) to take on the liability of severe weather forecasts and warnings. They will cherry pick the day-to-day weather reporting/forecasting functions and charge an arm and a leg for access. Meanwhile, the excellent National Weather Service (probably the best in the world) will continue to do the heavy hitting for "severe weather forecasts and warnings designed for the protection of life and property."
Bad idea Rick. Go find some man-on-man issue and bay over that until you are defeated in 2006.

[paineinthearse]

13. I was on jury duty and read this out loud to the others

There was absolutely no interest or reaction. It was like talking with pod people.

[dkofos]

14. I hope the people of Pa.

wake up to the fact that santorum is a

CORPORATIST

Every time you see his picture in the next election,
paint the CORPORATIST name on his forehead.
And that goes for all the repubs.