Billboard has the details in a story they posted Tuesday afternoon: "The U.S. House of Representatives has just passed, under suspension of House rules, the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO IP) Act. An official quorum vote is expected on the House floor this evening. Introduced by House Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers Jr.* last December, the Act (H.R. 4279) would create the office of a U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative in the White House to represent and advise the president on IP issues. The representative would produce a national joint strategic plan to protect and enforce IP rights, and would be responsible for seeing its implementation by various government agencies."

Incidentally, I decided to take a look at OpenSecrets.org and found that the "TV/Movies/Music" industry were the second largest industry group to make donations to Conyers. The best Congress money can buy! Conyers isn't alone, the "TV/Movies/Music" industry are the 9th biggest campaign contributors so far in the 2008 election cycle. To put that in perspective: Oil and Gas are the 16th and Pharmaceutical /Health Products are the 17th. The entertainment industry even buys more politicians than lobbyists (who are 12th.) This is why we need to vote every last incumbent out of office. Not just this year, but in every election. Party doesn't matter, get rid of them in the primaries if you have to stick to party loyalty. But this craziness needs to stop. They aren't doing the people's business, they're just doing business. Let's send real citizens to Congress and see if that works better. Yes, that's a pipe dream, but it's better than the nightmare we have now. I'm done ranting now. - Keavin - Read more about Big Brother's foray into the entertainment business with the full Billboard story.

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