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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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 2 Apr 2007 @ 6:13pm

    Got to love 'Bama...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jeff, 2 Apr 2007 @ 6:34pm

    meh

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

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dorpus, 2 Apr 2007 @ 7:06pm

    As opposed to the tech industry?

    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.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    SpaceColonyOne, 2 Apr 2007 @ 7:08pm

    Is that a phone I hear ringing?

    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

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Erv, 2 Apr 2007 @ 7:23pm

    Rush Limbaugh

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

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      LD, 2 Apr 2007 @ 7:36pm

      Re: Rush Limbaugh

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

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      dorpus, 2 Apr 2007 @ 8:47pm

      Re: Rush Limbaugh

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

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dklancer, 2 Apr 2007 @ 9:30pm

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

    Yay Alabama!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    malhombre, 3 Apr 2007 @ 2:00am

    Grammer Nazi

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

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Maxillarypun, 3 Apr 2007 @ 8:53am

    Meh Also

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

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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