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July 14, 2010

Tidbit

Congress is a cesspool of corruption, offering its members a variety of tricks to feather their own nests, and pay back those cronies who help finance the con job commonly called democracy. One legislative sleight of hand is a rider bill, which is a bill attached to a different, typically unrelated bill, in a furtive attempt to pass the rider without attracting scrutiny. Rider bills nearly always cater to a special interest, and commonly involve a pork allocation to the patron. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, where IBM has roots, has failed at least five years running to get patent deform passed. This year's attempt is a sneak attack: a rider onto a small business loan funding bill. In the interest of compact passage, what was never a hit has been reduced to a tidbit.

Hat tip to Kevin Noonan, who has detailed the sordid tale.

Posted by Patent Hawk at July 14, 2010 2:23 PM | The Patent System

Comments

New York is IBM's home state, both by incorporation and by location of corporate headquarters.

There is, however, a conspiracy afoot to make "tool group manipulations at least unConstitutional, if not downright immoral, I hear.

Posted by: Mud at July 14, 2010 4:54 PM

Posted by: fliptop at July 15, 2010 11:14 PM

...for first graders, ...maybe.

Posted by: Pedantic Pete at July 16, 2010 3:49 AM

Also best explanation for you know who:

"Just say NO" --Nancy R.

__________
No to drugs
No to business hedging patents
No to comprehension of things more complex than your own navel

Posted by: step back at July 17, 2010 1:12 AM