Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Sensenbrenner recently enjoyed an $18,000 'fact-finding trip' to Thailand and Taiwan - courtesy of the RIAA, say Boycott-RIAA and the Webcaster Alliance in a joint press release.

Calling for support in their bid to bring the RIAA to heel, the two music industry organizations say Sensenbrenner was in south-east Asia this January, "on behalf of the RIAA to speak to government officials in Thailand and Taiwan about copyright law, they say, emphasising that, "As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, James Sensenbrenner wields tremendous influence over new legislation as it pertains to Copyright law and the DMCA," says Webcaster Alliance president Ann Gabriel, going on:

"If he has committed an ethical violation and has an inappropriate relationship with the RIAA, the American public deserves to know.

"We can't deal with the RIAA until we stop the legislators who allow the RIAA to continue their monopolistic reign over the American people," she went on, "and we believe that process needs to start with American citizens demanding accountability from Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and the $18,000 trip he took in January on behalf of the RIAA."

In an Associated Press story, Sensenbrenner spokesman Jeff Lungren defended the five-day jaunt saying, "The fact-finding and educational aspects of this trip helped Chairman Sensenbrenner in his talks with foreign officials regarding foreign piracy and the stealing of intellectual property from American citizens."

However, "When the recording industry pays for the chairman of the Judiciary Committee to level threats at these governments, it creates an appearance of influence-peddling, says Gary Ruskin, who heads the Congressional Accountability Project, a non-profit government watchdog group.

There's a House rule against accepting private money to pay for official trips and Ruskin says he's been trying unsuccessfully to find a Democratic member of the House willing to start the ethics violation procedure against Chairman Sensenbrenner.

"We need a House member to provide the Congressional Accountability Project with a letter of transmittal so we can file the ethics complaint," Ruskin declared.

But Ruskin says both parties have an "understanding" with regard to ethics complaints and points out:

"Since 1997 no citizen or citizens group has filed an ethics complaint in the U.S House of Representatives."

Asked why this was, Ruskin stated, "Because both parties are corrupt as hell."

Gabriel says her Webcaster Alliance members, all of whom have already been seriously compromised by Sensenbrenners bait-and-switch tactics last October with HR 5469, are concerned and looking for answers.

"The House Committee on the Judiciary has jurisdiction over intellectual property issues and is engaged in keeping our nation's copyright laws up-to-date in the face of new and evolving technological advancements." she says.

"We believe it's the responsibility of the House Judiciary Committee to ensure that the public is protected against monopolies like the RIAA seeking to manipulate the legislative system, and to control American businesses and American consumers. It's of deep concern that Chairman Sensenbrenner has put himself in this ethically questionable situation."

She says DMCA reform is a major item on the WA agenda and, "We're tired of the RIAA using the DMCA to bully their way into Americans’ lives – it needs to stop."

Boycott-RIAA's Bill Evans said, "The appalling actions of the RIAA have equally affected independent artists, independent labels, the P2P community, the streaming community and the American consumer. The only way we can stop the RIAA is to demand accountability from all parts of the system.

"Today we are calling on Americans to phone, fax or email your Congressional Representatives IMMEDIATELY. Ask them to step forward, provide the Congressional Accountability Project with the letter of transmittal they need to file the complaint, and stand up against the actions of the RIAA."

Evans also says the RIAA is not representing the interests of Americans.

To support the fax campaign visit:

For more information contact: Ann Gabriel (Webcaster Alliance) – phone (702) 228-7409 or by email at: agabriel@webcasteralliance.com or Bill Evans (Boycott-RIAA) bill@boycott-riaa.com - phone (215) 825-7616

About Webcaster Alliance, Inc: Webcaster Alliance is a trade organization dedicated to providing information, education, support and services to every aspect of the streaming media community. Founded on the principles of promoting and encouraging growth for all of its members, Webcaster Alliance is committed to promoting the causes, people and technology that drive the streaming media community. For more information visit us on the web at: http://www.webcasteralliance.com

Boycott-RIAA is an independent web site dedicated to scrutinizing and commenting on RIAA activities.

It's nice to see a follow-up on this. I almost forgot about it. It's great that someone is trying to get that bastard in trouble, but it's too bad that it's falling on deaf ears.

This happens quite frequently.

"We can't deal with the RIAA until we stop the legislators who allow the RIAA to continue their monopolistic reign over the American people," she went on, "and we believe that process needs to start with American citizens demanding accountability from Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and the $18,000 trip he took in January on behalf of the RIAA."

AND the process should commence to begin a movement to VOTE THE ASSHOLES OUT!! Do it, you guys. I remind you that all effective political movements that benefit the people is a long, hard struggle, with many elections needed, many lawsuits and courtcases brought, and people beating that truth drumbeat. If the internet can get hundreds of thousands of people to protest this money/globilization thing, then why cannot all downloaders unite in a way that will be noticed by politicians. We have to begin to organize, register, and VOTE!!!! this November.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R- TX) 202-224-5922 202-224-0776 http://hutchison.senate.gov/e-mail.htm
Senator John Cornyn (R- TX) 202-224-2934 202-228-2856 http://cornyn.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
Representative Sam Johnson (R - 03) 202-225-4201 202-225-1485 http://wwwa.house.gov/samjohnson/IMA/get_address.htm
Representative Michael Burgess (R - 26) 202-225-7772 202-225-2919 http://www.house.gov/writerep/


Great, All Rebublicans. What are they odds they will start the investigation on another member of their own party. I'll call anyway.......

"'Since 1997 no citizen or citizens group has filed an ethics complaint in the U.S House of Representatives.'

Asked why this was, Ruskin stated, 'Because both parties are corrupt as hell.'"

No kidding.

Voting it good, but the system needs major reforms regardless, and don't make the mistake of thinking the Democrats will do anything usefull on this issue. (I'm voting that way for Homeland Security reasons anyway, but...) I've heard some good things about instant runoff voting, trick with such is to start small.

A small admonishment to those of you who talk about "consumer rights" and voting with your money: Note the above article. These people have enough money to vote with, you do not. If you think of yourself only in such terms, you're screwed. Find ways of working that these people have no access to.

I sent emails, this is an outrage, and shows corporate manipulation.

You know what would work?

Create a special interest group with no special interest. Take a few bucks, throw them on each side of a race, and maybe they'll think for once.

On the other hand...that thinking thing might cause some havoc in Washington.

Reforms won't start until the voter, with their third finger on the poll lever, demands that they do. How many of us got up from our computer monitors and went out to find the candidates who favor reform? See, it takes work, y'all. Honest, old-fashioned, nobody-can-do-it-for-you work. And ya gotta start now. Billfred, there are already such groups, with websites, in existence. Viscix, on the surface, your argument is good, but no money can couteract millions of vote. It is the absence of money that makes Democracy valid, so our founding documents say. Voting is a RIGHT, a RESPONSIBILITY, not a purchase with money. When the general public wakes up and realized this, boy will a lot of stuff change, and fast! Why do you think that politicians spend millions of dollars on advertising anyway. Trying to buy YOUR VOTE!

Pragmatically… “Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Sensenbrenner recently enjoyed an $18,000 'fact-finding trip' to Thailand and Taiwan - courtesy of the RIAA”

And… “There's a House rule against accepting private money to pay for official trips… (but) both parties are corrupt as hell”

So… If the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee can be bought so cheaply…

Why not just give him $18,001.00 and send him…

somewhere…

(I leave it to your imagination just where would be appropriate.

Think of it as a contest: Where would you send a cheap whore if it only cost you $18,001.00?)