A scant 20 minutes after the polls opened here my ballot was cast with a satisfying whirr and beep of the tried and “true” non-Diebold counting machine. I confess to being a bit giddy as I moved through the queue. I couldn’t stop myself from flipping open the blue privacy folder to look at my vote a 2nd, 3rd and 5th time. I couldn’t help but smile.

This is the first time in a long, long while where I was really and truly happy to cast my ballot.

My mood is only dampened by the reports of rampant voter fraud/tampering by the local GOP. Not the least of which by our own Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. Our “top cop” is the chair of the WIsconsin Republican party. Hell, he’s hosting the McCain/Palin “victory party” tonight in Waukesha. I ask you, how can the person who’s charged with enforcing a fair and accurate election possibly do so while jerking off the home office? Where is his zeal for justice when it comes to prosecuting paid temp workers who were TOLD TO LIE to people about their affiliations? Yeah, thought so. You are a blight, sir, and I look forward to your opponents victory party next time ’round.

I sent an angry letter to my congresswoman a while back and this afternoon received the reply. I don’t recall why exactly I sent the letter but at the time it had me pissed off I’m sure. I gathered from “her” response that it was regarding intellectual property laws of some kind but who the hell knows.

I enjoy the email back, for laughs if nothing else, but the typical political side-step hardly fills me with confidence. Oh well, not as if I could do any better, read on if you dare!

Thank you for emailing me regarding intellectual property licenses in federal government contracting. It is good to hear from you, and I apologize for the delay in my reply. As you know, government funded research and development (R&D) ranges from basic research in the sciences, mathematics, and biology to computer technology to military applications. Most funding is through grants, cooperative agreements and contracts. Under most circumstances, when the government funds R&D, it receives non-exclusive licenses to use the intellectual property while the contractor retains title and can use the intellectual property for commercial purposes.Some have proposed altering this R&D structure to allow companies to retain greater intellectual property rights. The House Government Reform Committee’s Technology and Procurement Policy Subcommittee held a hearing in May 2002 on the topic of Intellectual Property and Government R&D for Homeland Security. Information about that hearing can be found at: http://reform.house.gov/tapps/hearings.htm. I am skeptical about proposals to fundamentally change the current structure of federal R&D. I am a member of the House Judiciary Committee’s Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee, which has primary jurisdiction over intellectual property law. Rest assured, I will keep your views in mind should any legislation come before the House of Representatives or the Judiciary Committee.

Again, thank you for sharing your views. Your opinion matters to me. If I can be of service to you in any other way, please do not hesitate to let me know. Sincerely,

Tammy Baldwin

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin’s 2nd District

Wisconsin Office:
10 East Doty St., Suite 405
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-258-9800
Fax: 608-258-9808

Washington, DC Office:
1022 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2906
Fax: 202-225-6942

http://tammybaldwin.house.gov