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by Mike Masnick




Alabama Representative Doesn't Even Try To Hide Conflict Of Interest In Fighting Sirius/XM Merger

from the a-bit-over-the-top dept

The NAB has certainly been a bit ridiculous in fighting the XM-Sirius merger. Part of the problem is that they're fighting it by saying that it would create a monopoly -- but their very actions in fighting the merger proves that's not true. After all, if they didn't think that XM and Sirius competed with terrestrial radio, why would they care? The latest, though, is beyond ridiculous. Last week, the NAB convinced the Alabama House of Representatives to pass a resolution against the merger, though they conveniently had some help. Steve points out to us that the main sponsor of the bill, Mike Hubbard, happens to own a bunch of radio stations. For most people, this would represent what's known as a "conflict of interest" which should keep Hubbard from even voting on it, let alone sponsoring the bill. However, what fun is that? Apparently the old saying of "no conflict, no interest" is true in the Alabama House of Representatives as well. The NAB, however, is happily using the success of the Alabama resolution to convince other states to introduce similar resolutions as well. I guess they haven't yet found morally flexible radio station owners in the House of Representatives for the 49 other states.

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  1. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 6:13pm
    by Anonymous Coward

    Got to love 'Bama...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 6:34pm

    meh

    by Jeff

    Just another corrupt Republican. At least the corrupt Democrats try to hide it (e.g. hiding cash in the freezer).

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 7:06pm

    As opposed to the tech industry?

    by dorpus

    The tech industry does not take special favors from the government for granted, does it? It couldn't possibly hail the virtues of "free market economics", by which politicians kowtow to tech interests and bend over backwards to set up tax shelters and other special treatments. Why, we know Dell Computers could not be a welfare project by the government of Texas of the 1990s, when "Buy American" and "nurturing American technology" was all the rage, by which it was given reprieve from taxes, free land, and other concessions that few other businesses could expect.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 7:08pm

    Is that a phone I hear ringing?

    by SpaceColonyOne

    A little bit more about Mike Hubbard

    Alabama House District 79 (Lee County)
    Republican Party
    House Minority Leader
    Phone: 334.826.9946
    Fax: 334.826.9151
    hubbard@mikehubbard.com
    P.O. Box 950
    Auburn, AL 36831-0950

    Source - http://www.rephubbard.com

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 7:23pm

    Rush Limbaugh

    by Erv

    Anyone find it strange that Rush Limbaugh has not said a word about this?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 7:36pm

    Re: Rush Limbaugh

    by LD

    I find it strange that anyone would listen to Rush at all.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 8:47pm

    Re: Rush Limbaugh

    by dorpus

    That Archie Bunker wannabe? The arguments he makes can be stated far more eloquently, without resorting to crude racial or sexist stuff.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Apr 2nd, 2007 @ 9:30pm
    by dklancer

    I, for one, am proud to have one of the most corrupt legislatures in the nation.

    Yay Alabama!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Apr 3rd, 2007 @ 2:00am

    Grammer Nazi

    by malhombre

    "but there very actions in fighting the merger"
    C'mon, Mike...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. Apr 3rd, 2007 @ 8:53am

    Meh Also

    by Maxillarypun

    There's such a thing as a non-corrupt politician? News to me.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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