PIPA on life support -- is SOPA next?

Capitol Hill’s effort to crack down on Internet piracy was hanging on for dear life after Senate leaders gave the green light to abandon ship.

The signs of distress came from the top, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released Democrats from casting their lot with the PROTECT IP Act during a procedural vote scheduled for Jan 24. That also led to questions on the fate of the House Stop Online Piracy Act. Reid's decision "means it's headed south fast and he is only keeping the vote scheduled to keep his word to Leahy," a senior Democratic aide told POLITICO.