The Michigan Association of Broadcasters offered an enthusiastic appreciation of the Capitol Hill career of Bart Stupak (D-MI), calling him a “a strong and fierce defender for local broadcasters.”
Stupak said that passing health care reform had been a major goal of his since he entered office, and having achieved that goal, he is ready to take a break. As MAB said, “For awhile, he plans to sit on his deck overlooking Lake Michigan and watch the tall ships go by.”
MAB President/CEO Karole White said, “Stupak will complete his term and has a number of issues he wants to address before leaving in eight months. As broadcasters, we hope one of them is to help keep local radio and television stations alive and well in America. Bart has been a strong and fierce defender for local broadcasters and we will miss his leadership greatly.”
Stupak is a member of the key House Energy and Commerce Committee. He has sponsored a bill to allow FCC commissioners to more easily communicate with one another, something long championed by Commissioner Michael Copps, and is a co-sponsor of the Local Radio Freedom Act.
RBR-TVBR observation: We aren’t big fans of ringing endorsements of outgoing politicians – we would much prefer these exact same sentiments offered to incoming members of the Congress.
