Political Quotes

“We have heard from the industries involved in this bill, oh, have we heard from the industries. We have heard from the lobbyists that the industries have hired, oh, have we heard from the lobbyists. We have heard from the consultants that the lobbyists have hired. We have heard from the law firms, we have heard from all of them. Someone said, ``We never want to hear from them again.'' Well, you will not for about 50 years, because that is how long it will take for us to get around to another communications act. Why did you hear from them? What did you hear from the consumers? Oh, them? Well, what did you hear from the citizens? Oh, yes, right, John. Well, here is what they said, this is a $70 billion giveaway to broadcasters in this bill. I like broadcasters, folks. But the bill contains a provision which gives current broadcasters a block of publicly owned radio spectrum to increase their revenues by providing several free and pay-per-view channels, paging transmission and other nonprogram services without giving the public anything in return. Now, that from the Consumers Federation of America. Did they come and visit you? Have you received any visits from their lobbyists? I do not think so. So what we are doing, ladies and gentlemen, in broad daylight, and I know we are sober, we are giving corporate welfare to a broadcast industry which is already among the most powerful.”