Senate 'Watered Down' Indecency Bill - - Lawmaker (House May Kill It!)

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate diluted a measure to crack down on indecent television and radio broadcasts and the House probably will not accept it in its present form, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said on Wednesday.

``They watered down the bill, then they add some things that are extraneous,'' said Rep. Joe Barton, whose committee oversees the communications industry.

``We'll just work with them and see what we can do,'' he told Reuters.

Barton also expressed doubts that the House of Representatives would support tighter media rules adopted by the Senate as part of a bill to reauthorize defense programs.

more..........

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-congress-indecency.html

[mom cat]

1. How come media rules are part of a bill to reauthorize defense

programs? Is it because killing is indecent? Just wondering.

[MallRat]

3. GOP dirty trick: A vote for free speech is a vote against the troops.

It's a lose-lose situation for all but the most liberal of Democrats. Politically, they can't NOT vote in favor of the bill, or they'll be crucified by the RW machine.

-MR

[MallRat]

2. Senate didn't like FCC OK'ing more media consolidation.

Very interesting. The Senate version of the bill would invalidate the lax media ownership regulations that Michael Powell instituted for the benefit of GOP buddies like Rupert Murdoch. The House GOPers are very unhappy about this.

Which Senator(s) sponsored this amendment? They deserve a pat on the back.

That said, I'm not certain that this is going to survive reconciliation. The best we (and Howard Stern) can hope for is for this item to be the poison pill that pisses off the House leadership to the point where it sinks the entire indecency rider of the bill.

-MR

[BattyDem]

4. Ooops

On edit ... My comment doesn't make sense. I misunderstood the issue. Never mind. :evilgrin: