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

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

Mon, Apr 2nd 2007 5:28pm — Mike Masnick

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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10 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 2 Apr 2007 @ 6:13pm

Got to love 'Bama...
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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).
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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.
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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
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Erv, 2 Apr 2007 @ 7:23pm

Rush Limbaugh
Anyone find it strange that Rush Limbaugh has not said a word about this?
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LD, 2 Apr 2007 @ 7:36pm

Re: Rush Limbaugh
I find it strange that anyone would listen to Rush at all.
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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.
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dklancer, 2 Apr 2007 @ 9:30pm

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

Yay Alabama!
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malhombre, 3 Apr 2007 @ 2:00am

Grammer Nazi
"but there very actions in fighting the merger"
C'mon, Mike...
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Maxillarypun, 3 Apr 2007 @ 8:53am

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