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In the session that has just ended, Alabama’s House of Representatives passed Resolution HJR144 opposing the merger of Sirius and XM satellite radio companies. House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard (R – Auburn) was the resolution’s sole sponsor. HJR144 concludes:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the Attorney General of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission are encouraged to disapprove the proposed merger between the only two national satellite radio companies.
Why would the Alabama House take up the issue of a proposed merger between Sirius and XM satellite radio companies? Alabama’s House of Representatives is the first and, as far as I can determine, only state legislative body in the nation to take up this issue.
As the sole sponsor of the resolution, Hubbard has opened himself up to charges that as a Representative, he is acting in his own business interests.
From his bio online:
Hubbard’s company, Auburn Network, Inc., owns and operates WANI NewsTalk 1400, a commercial radio station in the Auburn/Opelika market as well as Studio 197, an audio production company serving the national broadcast industry…
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a radio industry trade association, issued a statement opposing the proposed merger between Sirius and XM.
The Alabama Broadcasters Association Board of Directors (Rep. Hubbard is a director) also passed a resolution opposing the merger.
From the blog for the Alabama Broadcasters Association on April 2:
WOW! What a week for the ABA! We were the first state to have the resolution in opposition to the XM – Sirius merger passed in the legislature. Thanks to Board member Mike Hubbard who owns WANI-AM (and you read above where he is purchasing an FM), this happened faster than we could have ever imagined. The NAB is extremely pleased with our efforts.
So Mike Hubbard owns a radio station (has since purchased another one) and introduces a House resolution urging the U.S. Attorney General and FCC to act in his own business interests?
Hubbard is the state GOP chair, and he could not find someone else to sponsor that resolution? Even to co-sponsor that resolution?
He would have been better off if he had gotten someone else to carry the water on this one.
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This is what a lot of Republicans were afraid of. That Hubbard’s business interests would
impact his and the Republicans politics. He knows that Dems are watching for him to slip up
so why do stupid things like this? Governor Hubbard? Please, he’s not ready for prime time.
Seems pretty clumsy. I’ll be interested in hearing his response, but I can’t imagine any justifiable explanation.
I agree with Hubbard more often than not but this is more than a little fishy. It also reminded me of the following story from a few months ago:
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who sent a letter this week to his successor
Alberto Gonzales blasting the proposed merger of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM
Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. approached XM in the days after the merger was announced
offering the firm his consulting services, a spokesman for XM said.
The spokesman said XM declined Ashcroft’s offer to work as a lobbyist for the company.
Ashcroft was subsequently hired by the National Association of Broadcasters, which is
fiercely opposed to the merger. On its behalf, he conducted a review of the effects on
competition if the two satellite radio companies were allowed to merge.
In a letter sent to Gonzales Feb. 27, Ashcroft concluded the merger would have a
significant negative impact on competition in the market and urged the current
attorney general to withhold approval for the merger.
Um, a resolution is just that–a resolution. This resolution does not encumber any funds and does not set policy.
There is nothing fishy about this, nor is it in any way even remotely either unethical or illegal.
Really Susan? Why do you think Hubbard pushed this through then? You are right that it isn’t binding (and in that sense is just a waste of everyone’s time). But aren’t you just a wee bit curious about whether Hubbard’s personal motives led him to do this?
Uncle Festus, Perhaps because competition is in the public interest.
He should have studied how LBJ wound up with a nice chain of Texas TV and radio stations while in the Senate.
State Republicans still have a lot to learn on how to slide such things through.
No one is saying it is illegal Susan, so stop hitting that straw man. But it is highly unethical to leverage his personal political clout for no other reason than to do a favor and show off for his bigshot radio buddies.
And plus it’s just dumb, shouldn’t a minority leader and state GOP chair be a little savvier about all this?
Aww…I love that we can always count on some people for their unwavering support of the Republican party line. The people who never hesitate to believe the worst when it comes to the Dems but can’t EVER find a flaw with their own party. It’s kind of cute actually. As far as resolutions not being significant, wasn’t the pay raise issue decided by resolution?
I’m off to read aboutt he 37 indictments that came down in the Fire College scandal today. Now there’s a REAL scandal.
you folks are all alot smarter than me, but it seems like it would be just as wrong for Hubbard to use his legislative stick to benefit his own business interests as it would be for Yvonne Kennedy to advance hers at Bishop, right? For those of you arguing the public/private distinction – it doesn’t hold up in this case as the airwaves are public and presumably a little of each of our taxes go to the fcc – oh and ethics are ethics whether you are using your public position to benefit your interests in the private sector or public. Anyhow, what about all of the lawyer/legislators drafting, advocating, or voting for legislation affecting their clients, areas of practice, or pocketbooks. Should Roger Bedford not be involved in legislation affecting plaintiff’s practitioners? What about Ben Brooks on legislation affecting his clients, like say…insurance companies? What about Doctor’s. Jabo at Healthsouth?
you tell me
[...] the Links Tuesday, June 12, 2007 Conflict of interest Dan on 2007-06-12 @ 11:50 pm The chairman of the GOP seems to have a conflict of interest.Doc’s Political Parlor has an interesting discussion over a resolution sponsored on the last day of the legislative session by Rep. Mike Hubbard. The resolution reads in part: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the Attorney General of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission are encouraged to disapprove the proposed merger between the only two national satellite radio companies. [...]
What we really need is legislation barring radio station owners from serving the legislature! These double dippers are everything that is wrong with our system!
According to ALISON this resolution “died in the basket.”
Brian, “clumsy” sounds like a good word for it.
Good comments all around.
Susan, on your last comment, ALISON is confusing on the resolution. The info on the resolution says it is in the House, but if you click on “History” for the resolution, it says it was sent to the Senate. I called the Office of the Clerk of the Senate. A woman there confirmed that the resolution passed the House and was sent to the Senate.
Was it passed in the Senate?
Someone please get Susan more Kool-Aid.
No, Susan, it was not passed in the Senate. “Died in the basket,” I am told.
Geez, Roy I was just aking a question. If getting the facts is a symptom of drinking the kool-aid, then pour me abother glass.
Susan,
You’re first response to this was “There is nothing fishy about this, nor is it in any way even remotely either unethical or illegal.”
So it’s obvious that your philosophy when it comes to GOPers accused of misdeeds is “deflect, defuse, distract first, then “get the facts” later”.
My first statement was true. There is nothing unethical or illegal about the resolution. Sorry, that’s a simple statement of fact.