Chicago Tribune | Boaters fear loss of guiding voice
many ... boaters across the country are concerned that they may lose these free radio [weather] reports. They fear the private sector will take them over and the broadcasts will no longer be free or as comprehensive. Specifically, they are afraid of what they know as the Santorum bill. Sponsored by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), the measure seeks to limit the National Weather Service's mission in a way that would help private weather-forecasting companies regain footing lost after a ruling a year ago.Under the bill, the commerce secretary could stop the National Weather Service and its parent, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, from providing any other “product or service” that private companies could handle.
Surprisingly, Santorum received plenty of campaign contributions from private weather-forecasting companies. Hmmm. One of the ironies of this bogus bill is that the private weather-forcasting companies get their data, for free, from the National Weather Service, then sell it.
Boaters even fired across Santorum's bow by noting that he has received campaign contributions from private weather firms in his state.The senator received several thousand dollars from boating interests in his state, but he said that amount is only a drop in the bucket compared with what it will take for him to get re-elected next year. Sponsoring the legislation is also a big jobs issue for Pennsylvania, his office said, because AccuWeather, a private forecasting firm, is based there.
...boaters contend that under the Santorum bill they might have to buy new radios and pay to subscribe to private weather services, in effect, paying twice for government forecasts (once through taxes and again for the private service). Root denied that would be the case.
Tags: corruption, /weather
