"Dave" wrote

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 16:18:22 -0400, "Glenn Ashmore"
said:

That is pretty simple. Now what part do you not understand?

You've been reading too many propaganda sheets. Actually, the intent is to
restore the policy the NWS had in effect from 1991 to 2004, under which it
would provide basic information but would not compete with private
industry
in providing detailed analyses being provided by commercial services such
as
Accu-weather. In 2004 the weather service decided to change that policy
and
use our tax dollars to go into competition with the private sector
providers.

I am reading Mr. Santorum's bill period and it clearly robs the public of
the data that it has paid for and gives it free of charge exclusively to the
private companies of his State.

The 1991 NWS policy was just that, a policy. Not a law. In 2002, under the
Shrub's administration, that policy was criticized because it is a violation
of the Paperwork Reduction and Management of Federal Resources Act of 1995.
That LAW requires "all Federal agencies make their information available in
commonly accepted formats and distribute it over publicly accessible means,
such as the internet." In 2004 the NWS did nothing but follow the
recommendations of a non-partisan study commissioned by the Congress. The
primary recommendation of that study was that the NWS should improve access
by the public to the data. The NWS did it and did it well at a minimum
cost.

Now, because a Federal agency did its job to well it gets slapped down and
we loose a valuable resource that we will continue to pay for. If you think
that is the path to good government you deserve what you get.


--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com