Ron and Sam's Drive to Save Internet Radio

While he's by no means a back-bencher, I didn't anticipate posting anything in the near-term about lispy U.S. Senataor Ron Wyden (D-OR).  He appears to be a decent enough guy and not overly combative when I scan past CSPAN, but I never really latched on to something he had to say.

Until this week.

As you may be aware, the Recording Industry Association of America recently started to move on a plan that would basically crush small internet broadcasters (including public/community radio stations) by upping the royalties they pay on music between 300 and 1200 percent.  Shame on them.

Wyden and Republican Darling-of-the-Social-Conservatives Presidential hopeful Sam Brownback (R-KS)  introduced a bill that would basically neuter the RIAA's hemlock.

As someone who really got hooked on community radio when I lived in the Twin Cities (KFAI's 'different station every hour' is wonderful!), I don't want to see them go the way of the Edsel and will pretend, for the moment, that I don't usually prefer a hands-off government.

It's my blog and I'll be a hypocrite if I want to!

Happy Saturday....I'm out to buzz some bushes.

Up or Down Vote

One of the problems that congresspeople always complain about is that so-called up-or-down votes are not often allowed. Too often they have to vote on larger funding bills that water down the ability of the representative to clearly show where they stand on the issue.

Today, before the current Obey (D-WI) funding bill vote, members will get a chance to make a statement and vote on an effectively-immediate pullout measure proposed by Jim McGovern (D-MA).

Good for them. I'm all for them being able to vote on what they really want to do before moving on to what's possible. While it won't result in any action, it will allow members to distinguish themselves from one another.