White House Threatens Veto on Media-Ownership Cap

[muchacho]

If you hate the media echo chamber then call you representative!

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White House Threatens Veto on Media-Ownership Cap

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration said on Tuesday it would veto a large government-spending bill if it reimposed media-ownership caps that were recently relaxed by the Federal Communications Commission.

A House of Representatives committee altered a spending bill for the FCC and other government agencies last week to block deals that would allow television networks to own individual stations that reach more than 35 percent of the audience.

The agency recently raised the national audience limit from to 45 percent 35 percent, sparking a firestorm of criticism from both Democrats and Republicans who argued the move could hurt local reporting and diversity of viewpoints.

The Bush administration said any move to roll back the changes would scuttle the $37.9 billion spending bill, which also sets the budgets for the Justice, State and Commerce departments.

"The Administration believes that the new FCC media ownership rules more accurately reflect the changing media landscape and the current state of network station ownership, while still guarding against undue concentration in the marketplace," the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

<snip>

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0722-09.htm

[liberalnurse]

1. Yea, let them show their true colors....

It only validates Mike Powell took his marching orders from*bush and company.... Let *bush be seen for the rogue he is....

[muchacho]

2. action alert

Here the FAIR action alert url.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2003/0722-10.htm

[realFedUp]

3. Action Alert -Support Hinchey-Price Amendment to HR 2799

Action Alert: Call Now to Restore Cross-Ownership Ban

WASHINGTON - July 22 - This afternoon is a critical moment in the effort to roll back the FCC media ownership rules. Tonight, the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 2799, which includes an attempt to roll back the national television ownership cap, one of the controversial new rules approved by the FCC on June 2.
A move is underway to greatly expand the measure. Congressmembers Maurice Hinchey (D.-N.Y.) and David Price (D.-N.C.) will introduce an amendment to restore the crucial newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership ban.

ACTION: Call your member of Congress immediately and ask them to support the Hinchey-Price amendment to H.R. 2799 to restore the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership ban.

To find contact information for your member of Congress, and to read more about the cross-ownership ban, go to: http://www.mediareform.net/callthehill3.php

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[rwork]

4. Tom Hicks

must have made his call to the Whitehouse. "Pay-Back Time,"

[realFedUp]

5. Explain please.

Who is Tom Hicks and what is the payback?

[rwork]

6. He is vice president

of Clear Channel and bush* long time family friend. They go back to when bush* was governor.

[young_at_heart]

7. My Republican rep voted for an ownership cap!

There's hope if he voted this way. Hard to believe the Bushites are so adamant about this disgusting bill....it's a joke that there won't be "undue concentration" in the marketplace.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. Aha!

Why all the repukes voted yea! Because they knew the maladministration would veto, and that a veto override was unlikely, hence, those repukes running for election in 2K4 would get cheapassed political cover.

Just more cynicism from the repukes.

[young_at_heart]

9. I should have realized this!

Just when I thought maybe there was an honorable bone in my Rep....I should have known better.

[NewJerseyDem]

15. I don't think so

It is because conservatives think that there needs to be more diversity because they think that the media is controlled by liberals. They think that if Viacom, Disney, and AOL TimeWarner are allowed to own too much that all the medai will be liberal.

[damnraddem]

10. Dubya cares more for his corporate cronies than for the country.

Too bad; but vetoes can be overridden. And if a veto isn't, then State, Justice, and Commerce will have Dubya-induced troubles.

[CBHagman]

11. I just called my congressman

He hasn't announced an official position on the bill but did oppose the FCC's moves on June 2 to roll back the ownership limitations.

I'm sure the people on the Hill -- independent, Republican, Democratic -- need to hear from us, and bear in mind that some GOP members are against what the FCC pulled.

Now we just need to kick the White House's collective tuchis on this. Their phone number is 202-456-1111. Good luck getting through.

[AlabamaYankee]

12. Why is this so important to the Maladministration?

In the grand scheme of things, this seems like a rather minor point on which to bring out the veto hammer. After all, the media are already highly concentrated and docile. The only thing I can think of is that, like all dictators, fundamentalists and other control freaks, if one item gets away they fear the entire facade will collapse.

[Cronus Protagonist]

14. He needs to keep them happy for Election 2004

This is their payback for portraying the nefarious buffoon in such a beneficial light. No payback, news gets nasty.


http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13 - cute little buttons
http://cronus.com - enlightening and educational liberal fun

[myomy]

13. The WH has yet to do anything that’s right for the country.

impeach the bastards

[ZenLefty]

16. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=28727&mesg_id=28727&listing_type=search