Santorum still trying to destroy The National Weather Service

[Ian David]

Otherwise, what's next? Boxturtles predicting the weather?

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2005 — A storm is brewing in Congress about a vital government function Americans depend upon: weather forecasting.

In the last year or so, the government has been making its National Weather Service data more widely available through direct outreach to TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet; NWS officials have appeared for live media interviews; and the NWS Web site, which now gets approximately 5 million hits a day, has become more user-friendly.

Commercial forecasters are not welcoming what they see as direct competition and, with their allies in Congress, are pushing to stop the government from infringing on the service they have built into a billion dollar-a-year industry.

<snip>

Sen. Rick Santorum, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate leadership, has at least 14 such commercial weather companies in his home state of Pennsylvania, including powerhouse AccuWeather. In April, Santorum introduced the National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005, which states that with the exception of the "preparation and issuance of severe weather forecasts and warnings designed for the protection of life and property of the general public," the National Weather Service must not provide any product or service "that is or could be provided by the private sector."

Opponents of Santorum's bill say any limitations on the way NWS information can be provided to the public is squandering taxpayer dollars and potentially dangerous. "Weather for a pilot is essential," said Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, who logs on to the NWS Web site before he flies his Cessna. "Forty percent of all fatalities are caused by weather-related factors."

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=773123&page=1

[RobertSeattle]

1. Are they like Hitler too?

:evilgrin:

[kaygore]

2. Our taxes pay for the service

Just when will our "representatives" start looking out for our interests as opposed to the interests of the people who put money in their pockets.

Can we spell W-H-O-R-E-S?????

[Ian David]

4. I suppose we could subscribe to a weather service from another country?

Or, we could rely upon psychics.

[kaygore]

7. Thank you for the laugh!

But weather from foreign countries is an interesting idea. Perhaps we should send our taxes to Canada and let them provide the services.

Just an idea.

[dbt]

3. Couple that with Hutchison's bill for Weather Modification:

Look at S. 517, introduced by the Texas Republican on March 3, 2005. See where it says weather modification "means changing or controlling, or attempting to change or control, by artificial methods the natural development of atmospheric cloud forms or precipitation forms which occur in the troposphere."

Notice how its proposed board contains NO representative from the National Weather Service. Something foul is afoot.

Read the text of the bill here. Notice that phrase "and for other purposes."

[Ian David]

5. Can we use this to send another hurricaine to Louisiana on Nov. 2nd?

[Q]

6. Watch this: how long before the commercial 'forecasters' start charging...

... to view their forecasts because there is no free competition?

If the fascists have their way...there will be no government services beyond the military industrial complex.

[Ian David]

8. Don't forget the faith-based social services...

The ones that will require you to denounce YOUR God and pledge allegiance to THEIRS.

And to prove your loyalty and right to engage in commerce, you will need a mark on your forehead and a microchip in your hand...