Raw Story: Weather Service must have media contacts approved

[deminks]

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Commerce_Department_tells_Nationa_1004.html

The Department of Commerce has issued a blanket media policy to employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), requiring that all requests for contact from national media be first approved by the Department, RAW STORY has learned.

According to a leaked Sept. 29 email memo sent out to all NOAA staff, including employees of the National Weather Service (NWS) -- both of which are under the Department of Commerce -- employees must collect information from reporters and forward it to the Department.

While Teet is new to NOAA’s press office, starting in June of this year, he is not new to the PR field, having served as Community Relations Chief and External Relations Chief at Laughlin Air Force Base directly prior to joining NOAA.

Teet provided support in 1999 for spokeswoman Karen Hughes’ defense of then Governor George W. Bush’s National Guard record, claiming that training constituted “active duty.”

OMG, there is nothing sacred from the crony-ism.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. They're running federal government like a local municipality.

[fooj]

2. No. A thousand times NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

This is just bullshit. They have some nerve.


Peace.

[expatriot]

3. Bush is at war with climate change so "intelligence reports" are classifed

[KamaAina]

4. Is that a whiff of Santorum I smell?

America's Worst Senator (TM) has been trying for months to eviscerate NWS and replace it with his cozy campaign contributor AccuWeather. A quietly menacing call from his orifice, um, office to the Commerce Dept. is not at all out of the question.

[Coexist]

5. You read my mind! n/t

[shance]

6. Learn about the Weather Modification bill sponsored by Sen. Hutchison

of Texas.

Why all this sudden interest in the weather by Republicans?

The Weather Modification Act, a vague bill in its wording needs to be repealed.