As if Congress weren't already in the MPAA's pockets, given the recent Family Craptacular Act of 2005 that President Bush signed into law yesterday, Congress is also in the pockets of ... the for-profit weather data industry?

That's right, folks. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) has, ironically, done one of the gayest things a senator could ever do. This time, the pandering isn't even covert. It's the opposite of that. Some might say it's covert.

Last week, Santorum introduced S.786 into the Senate, "To clarify the duties and responsibilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service, and for other purposes."

What are these duties? Apparently, they are to collect a whole lot of meteorological data. And then guess what Santorum doesn't want the National Weather Service to do? Give you these data for free! Currently, the NWS, a government agency, provides meteorological data for free. Under Santorum's revised "duties," the NWS would be prohibited from giving away meteorological data for free -- or in any other way "that might influence or affect the market value of any product, service, commodity, tradable, or business," since NWS competes with private-sector weather data companies.

I think this is probably the most asinine thing I've ever heard in my entire life. Pity the poor private-sector weather collection agencies. Sure, you can have your storm warnings -- for five dollars. Hey, we're just trying to make a living!

The old laws of economics once said that if you aren't making money doing something, it's time to do something else. The new laws of economics say that if you're not making money doing something, lobby Congress to enact legislation that will allow you to make money doing whatever it is you're doing. For example, if you're a guy in charge of a private-sector weather agency, and you're not making money because NWS provides its data for free, don't go into another line of work! Just find the most easily paid-off Congressman you can and lobby him or her to write legislation that eliminates your competition! (See also Digital Millennium Copyright Act [DMCA], in which media companies forced new markets and technologies to behave like old ones, so they could continue using old-and-busted business models instead of innovating.)

Also, EFF points out that you already pay for NWS information, since it's a taxpayer-funded agency. Santorum's bill would still allow -- and indeed, require -- NWS to provide weather data to private weather companies. Under Santorum's plan, then, you would pay twice for meteorological data.

For this reason (and others, definitely), Rick Santorum is a SEDHE Villian of the Forever.