[brian eiland]

...courtesty of Yachting magazine...

Good weather information has saved many a boater from wet passages and indisposed passengers, but it is much more than that —nothing less than a matter of life and death. Fortunately, the United Stales has the best public-access weather information system in the world, thanks to the National Weather Service and its parent, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as NOAA.

Unfortunately that fact seems to be lost on U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R., Pennsylvania, who has introduced a bill to put a stop to your tax-paid buoy, satellite, ground station and meteorologist information stream—saying, in essence, to boaters: drop dead

Oh, and in case you’re wondering why a U.S. Senator would want to wreck a jewel of a system like NOAA, just follow the money. His bill would seem to benefit only Pennsylvania-based AccuWeather, a major contributor to the Senator’s PAC and re-election campaign

more...

[foundrycourt]

What a muppet (sorry to anyone who actually voted for him!) These politions from which ever country in the world need a health warning strapped to them. They should remember they are put into represent the people, not for their own good - greed. (sorry to go slightly away from yachting).

If it's not broke don't fix it.

[Arniev]

Ever since Sen.Santorum introduced the National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005 last April 14, there has been a groundswell of opposition to it.

[brian eiland]

Just to provide reference info, this topic has been discussed on SA.

Original thread: WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN
(http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums...howtopic=17391)

Repeats

Sen. Santorum wants to ban NWS public access
(http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17406)

NWS is about to go away!
(http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums...howtopic=18919)

Santorum trying to privatize NOAA data for sailors
(http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums...howtopic=21513)