More on radio performance tax legislation

Here’s the auto response I received from Kay Bailey Hutchison on impending legislation that would apply a “performance tax” on every song played on the radio. Just one more bad idea from the flailing and dying music industry. Kay Bailey was the only politician to send something other than a blanket “thanks for contacting me” response.

Hutchison’s email:

Thank you for contacting me regarding royalty fees for performers whose work is played on over-the-air radio, also known as performance fees. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Current law requires free over-the-air radio stations to pay song royalties to songwriters and producers. However, unlike cable, satellite and Internet radio, over-the-air radio stations have historically been exempt from paying performance fees. This exemption recognizes both the unique role played by free over-the-air broadcasters in the communities they serve, and the fact that performers receive exposure from air play that promotes album and merchandise sales.

Recently, new mediums in broadcasting, including satellite and Internet radio, have emerged. Performers are paid for their music in these mediums, raising questions about parity and fairness. While the emergence of new broadcasting mediums has caused some to question over-the-air broadcasters’ longstanding exemption, I remain concerned about imposing royalties on them in these difficult economic times. This concern is particularly relevant to small broadcasters.

I will closely monitor this legislation as it evolves, particularly with respect to addressing the potential financial impact on the smallest broadcasters, and I will keep your views in mind. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

Hit this link if you want to do something about this ridiculous piece of legislation.

Kay Bailey puttin’ the screws to Perry

And protecting Texan’s property rights at the same time.

It’s a nakedly political move, but kudos to Hutchison for taking a stand for Texans. Something Rick Perry quit doing years ago in fealty to the bleeding far-right of the GOP.

From the link:

Gov. Rick Perry’s plan to build a massive tollway system through the heart of Texas may be dead, but it lives on as a political issue.

Kay Bailey Hutchison, Perry’s challenger in the March Republican primary, discussed the failed Trans-Texas Corridor repeatedly Monday during an appearance urging voters to support a proposition to limit the state’s power of eminent domain. She said the concept for Perry’s massive network of toll roads and rail lines is still alive.

“So that’s why it’s so important that we pass this constitutional provision, which will give the extra measure of protection,” said Hutchison, a longtime critic of Perry’s project. “The Trans-Texas Corridor was a massive land grab, and that certainly heightened the awareness of Texans everywhere.”

Rick Perry hands Kay Bailey a loaded gun

Perry is frightened of something — either an investigation into the execution of Cameron Willingham, potentially an innocent man, or more likely he’s running scared of Kay Bailey Hutchison running against him in a primary fight for a new term as governor of Texas. This move gives Kay Bailey one more stick to beat him up with.

Good riddance to the worst governor Texas has seen in my lifetime. He’s one of the dimmer bulbs out there and has been a blight on Texas politics for far too long.

From the second link:

Last week, Perry announced he would not reappoint Chair Sam Bassett and two other members of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which is looking into the probe that led to the execution of Cameron Willingham — despite strong evidence that he may have been innocent. The panel members terms had expired.

Perry himself, as governor, had signed off on the 2004 execution, leading critics to charge that the decision on Bassett — who had appeared to push for an aggressive inquiry into missteps in the original probe — was an attempt by the governor to short-circuit an effort that could have been politically damaging as he faces a tough re-election campaign.

Now, the Star-Telegram of Forth Worth reports that just weeks before Perry opted not to re-appoint Bassett, the chair of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, which recommends nominees to the panel, had written to Perry to urge him to reappoint Bassett, whose tenure was expiring.

Don’t do it Kay Bailey

This 538 post is actually about Palin already endorsing the pathetic Rick Perry as Texas governor in 2010, but it touches on another point — that Kay Bailey Hutchison may leave the Senate to run for the seat.

Nate Silver points out Kay Bailey has a significant “what-if” polling lead over Perry. Not surprising since Perry is ineffectual and toadying in a very weak office. For those who don’t know Texas politics, the power rests in the lieutenant governor’s office. The governor is something of a cheerleading figurehead with some actual power and responsibility.

The only reason I could ever see Hutchison covet the office would be as a springboard to the White House. She’s a very effective senator and I’d hate to see the state lose that voice and experience in D.C. Especially since junior senator is the moronic John Cornyn. I shudder to think of “Big, Bad John” as a senior senator.

I also don’t see Hutchison with any hope of getting to Pennsylvania Avenue on the heels of Bush’s eight years of shame and fail.

Palin’s obviously trying to knock a real threat as the female voice of the GOP. It’s no contest, really. Hutchison is intelligent with a strong sense of the political game. Palin is, well Palin — glasses, boobs, hair, dipshit aphorisms, no grasp of policy and absolutely no clue.

Palin’s backing the wrong horse in this race if Hutchison does indeed run. But Kay Bailey, please, please stay in the Senate. The State of Texas needs you. Needs you in D.C., not Austin.

From the link:

The problem is that Rick Perry isn’t especially likely to be Texas’s governor in 2012. Rather, Hutchison is. A Texas Lyceum(.pdf) poll conducted in June showed Hutchison with a 36-22 lead over Perry among prospective Republican primary voters. Hutchison also polled the race herself, and — the usual caveats about internal polls applying — gave herself a 55-31 lead over Perry. And Perry’s approval ratings are well below par, with 42 percent of Texans saying he’s doing a good job as governor and 58 percent a poor one.