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Comment by conroy | Hacker News Reader

Surprisingly, the proposed bill exempts gyms and health clubs, which have some of the worst cancellation policies.

The result of lobbying, maybe?

Almost certainly, imo.

Were I a VC, part of my model to identify industries ripe for tech disruption would be to find those that get legislative sweetheart deals that don't benefit the taxpayer.

Ooo I just had an idea:

Uber but for lobbying

Most features apply: a map to select available lobbyiees nearby, lobby sharing, low cost lobbying. Even price jacking for peak lobbying hours!

You have a bootstrap problem though: how do you lobby for the erosion of worker's rights in the lobby gig economy without first creating the uber for lobbying app?

Prostitution is already illegal in most areas of the US; there are no rights to erode.

(/s, just in case)

“American People Hire High-Powered Lobbyist To Push Interests In Congress”

https://www.theonion.com/american-people-hire-high-powered-l...

Maybe the result of lobbying, and undeniably the result of the politicians putting forth the bill.

Sounds like the kind of thing ALEC would push through for someone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legislative_Exchange_...

It doesn't sound at all like the kind of thing ALEC would do.

Unrelated to the article but this is insane:

> Statutes in Colorado, South Carolina, and Indiana exempt ALEC, specifically by name, from having to register as a lobbyist and report lobbying expenditures.

I remember cancelling a membership to a health club years back could not be done over the phone, it required a registered letter to the main office.

as i recall pennsylvania already has some protections against gyms. they're probably just not doubling up.

edit: Pennsylvania Health Club Act

A quick search suggests that the cancelation provision in the Pennsylvania Health Club Act requires certified mail or delivering (personally?) a letter. That's definitely a worse experience than "click to cancel".

[1] https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/PDF/1989/0/0087....

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