Congress rejects Broadcaster Freedom Amendment

July 16, 10:20 PMConservative Politics ExaminerKathy Shaidle

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As reported by Examiner.com earlier this week, the bill, which would have blocked the FCC from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine or enacting proposed localism regulations for the next fiscal year, was introduced as an amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations Bill by Pence and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR).

Pence said in a statement, "The First Amendment is not a partisan issue. The preservation of freedom is the paramount duty of every elected representative and should take precedence over partisan politics. Today Congress had an opportunity to allow the American people and their elected representatives to ensure the freedom of the airwaves, and today Congress said no."

Pence said the amendment "would have reassured all Americans that broadcast radio would remain free from government censorship for at least the next fiscal year."

Pence added, however, that he is nonetheless "confident that broadcast freedom will ultimately prevail, and we will send the Fairness Doctrine to the ash heap of history."