Senate nixes return of Fairness Doctrine

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Legislation promoted by Jim DeMint (R-SC) to prevent the FCC from breathing new life into the Fairness Doctrine was added as an amendment to a bill that would give the District of Columbia a voting member in the House of Representatives (as well as adding one for Utah). The DeMint amendment was catapulted onto the bill with a resounding 87-11 vote. It was accompanied by a measure from Dick Durbin (D-IL) which would attempt to address the issue of ideological balance on the airwaves by directing regulators to promote diversity of license ownership – that measure passed 57-41.


RBR/TVBR observation: Legislation equivalent to the DeMint bill has been introduced in the House. It remains to see how that body will handle the matter. But if it gets through there, it should have no problem getting a presidential autograph, since President Obama has repeatedly stated his opposition to the Doctrine.