Big Tech lobbyist language made it verbatim into NY's hedged repair bill
When New York became the first state to pass a heavily modified right-to-repair bill late last year, it was apparent that lobbyists had succeeded in last-minute changes to the law's specifics. A new report from the online magazine Grist details the ways in which Gov. Kathy Hochul made changes identical to those proposed by a tech trade association.
In a report co-published with nonprofit newsroom The Markup, Maddie Stone writes that documents surrounding the drafting and debate over the bill show that many of the changes signed by Hochul were the same as those proposed by TechNet, which represents Apple, Google, Samsung, and other technology companies.
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The bill passed with broad bipartisan support, but it was pared down to focus only on small electronics.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by canopic jug on Saturday February 18, @09:22AM (1 child)
It is very disingenuous to claim that the bill was pared down to focus only on small electronics. With the carveouts that Hochul pasted in from the lobbyists' documents, there are so many exceptions and loopholes that the bill basically does nothing except make it that much harder to get a real bill passed. The bill that Hochul gutted was about seven years in the making.
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 2) by SpockLogic on Saturday February 18, @04:54PM
Best political system money can buy. !!!!
Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Thexalon on Saturday February 18, @01:43PM (2 children)
At this point, at both the federal and state and probably municipal levels, the lobbyists write the bills, the
bribescampaign contributions get them to pass, and the politicians are there to be the public face of this system.The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: -1, Troll) by crafoo on Saturday February 18, @03:57PM (1 child)
It's much better on the county and even state levels. enforcement of the laws (which is what actually matters) is usually thru the sheriffs, and sheriffs are almost always part of the local culture.
there is a lot of skin-suiting going on right now on the Right side of the political spectrum. the thing is, progressives are tricky little goblins. They've pumped money into "right wing" socially-liberal media and influencers (tiktok trad whores). A real opposition party to the progressives isn't allowed, so people believe the only choices are between two gay jewish old men fighting. A real nationalist, American political party that promotes The American System are not allowed to exist.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 18, @08:00PM
What crack are you smoking, bru? Not the regular stuff.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by khallow on Sunday February 19, @04:22AM
Anyway, this explains how such a law was able to pass the legislature so easily in the first place. They passed the law with a so-called "veto-proof" majority, but the bill conveniently passed onto Governor Hochul's desk in time for a pocket veto. When the pocket veto failed due to considerable popular support, Hochul was able to edit the bill and water it down - despite that alleged veto-proof majority. Thus, the legislature could appear diligent without worry that an actionable right to repair would appear on the books.