S.786: Senator Santorum's Great Game of Evasion

[donsutherland1]

More than 8 weeks have passed since I contacted Senator Santorum's office with specific questions concerning access to data under his proposed S.786. One would have expected that a Senator with national ambitions would be sufficiently familiar with his own legislation so that he would comment on a national issue. Wrong!

Instead, there has been just silence. He has become more invisible than an F-117A Stealth Fighter on radar. When it comes to S.786, it appears that the Senator simply cannot or will not provide a straight answer. The examples continue to mount.

A recent story in the Ellsworth American, Maine's largest weekly newspaper highlights the Senator's evasive practices:

Does that mean the broadcasts and online forecasts currently offered by the Weather Service would be halted?

Santorum Press Secretary Robert Traynham couldn’t give assurance that the weather radio so vital to Maine marine interests wouldn’t be at risk if the bill passed. “In all likelihood, if the product was available before the non-competition policy was revoked in December 2004, it would be available upon passage of the act,” he wrote. However, he didn’t specify whether that “product” would be delivered by NOAA weather radio or some other medium.

Needless to say, the Senator's lack of straightforward disclosure appears to be par for the course when it comes to S.786. Just two days after his political action committee received a $2,000 contribution from Dr. Joel Myers, CEO of AccuWeather, Inc., Senator Rick Santorum introduced S.786 "The National Weather Service Duties Act." Later, when asked whether there was a tie between the contribution and the timing of his legislation, Senator Santorum did not definitively reject a possible link. Instead, he offered the following ambiguous reply, "I don't think there's any coincidence between the two."

I find it unbelievable that the Senator wouldn't know whether the campaign contribution influenced his behavior nor be able to explain the impact his legislation would have.

What is far more likely is that the legislation would have the kind of adverse impact the public would strongly oppose. Hence, the Senator runs and hides from specific questions and throws up a smokescreen of ambiguity in which he tries to mask his bad legislation, hoping that he can somehow sneak it by the public.

What a sad spectacle. Public service is about serving the public. It is not defined by appeasing special interests at the expense of the public interest.

Senator Santorum owes his constituents--and when it concerns national issues, all Americans--direct answers, not evasion. Perhaps if the Senator were a little more responsive to the public, he would understand that the public is not so naive nor ill-informed that his "game" of evasion would succeed. S.786 is a fatally flawed piece of legislation that is not worth the $2,000 that might well have procured it, or at least the timing of its introduction.

Meanwhile, as the Senator continues to hide in his fog of evasion, each passing day, the polling continues to suggest that he moves closer to the end of his game as Senator. Soon, and likely to the relief of most Pennsylvanians, he'll receive the unmistakable message "You Lose. Game Over."

Judging by his performance in the tragic comedy S.786 has become, that moment probably can't come a day too soon.

[Stephanie]

Meanwhile, as the Senator continues to hide in his fog of evasion, each passing day, the polling continues to suggest that he moves closer to the end of his game as Senator. Soon, and likely to the relief of most Pennsylvanians, he'll receive the unmistakable message "You Lose. Game Over."

Judging by his performance in the tragic comedy S.786 has become, that moment probably can't come a day too soon.

I certainly hope that you are right Don!

[dhweather]

His opponet will get $ from me, even if Sanotorum is down 40 points in
the polls. He needs to be gone.

[vbhoutex]

And we all notice who is throwing up the smoke screen too or at least helping-none other than ACCUWEATHER themselves!!

Coincidence? I think not!!!!!

I hope we can all say BUH BYE to Senator Santorum and his HORRIBLY FLAWED peice of legislation!!!!! THE SOONER THE BETTER!!!

[Agua]

Quite honestly, I think this thing has the proverbial snowball's chance of ever being enacted.

[SouthernWx]

Just two days after his political action committee received a $2,000 contribution from Dr. Joel Myers, CEO of AccuWeather, Inc., Senator Rick Santorum introduced S.786 "The National Weather Service Duties Act." Later, when asked whether there was a tie between the contribution and the timing of his legislation, Senator Santorum did not definitively reject a possible link. Instead, he offered the following ambiguous reply, "I don't think there's any coincidence between the two."

Yeah right

If I loved B.S. that good, I'd fly up to Washington D.C. and hug his neck

[Terry]

Senators too often don't answer questions from non-constituents. The PA people need to insist on answers. What a jerk this guy is.

I noticed that the bill still has ZERO co-sponsors and I don't see how it can move forward without them. Just my two cents worth.

Thanks as always, Don!

[stormchazer]

As a member of his Political Party I have this to say:

"Run his b#tt out of office!!"

[DoctorHurricane2003]

when his opponent is determined, we need to remind him or her to publicize how Santorum tried to make us pay for weather info and get rid of the NWS.

[donsutherland1]

I do, too, Stephanie.

[dhweather]

On the news the other night, there was some political junk about
current events. Mostly background noise to me, until they mentioned
that Rick Santorum had referred to someone in America being
"like Adolph Hitler"

Sorry, but I don't think anyone in the US is of that "caliber" - this guy is
clearly nuts and needs to be out of office.