President Bush assured members of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) on Tuesday he will not let Congress take away their freedom to use the airwaves to spread the truth.

Congressional Democrats have threatened to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, which was put in place by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1949 and later repealed. It required the nation's TV and radio broadcasters to make time for voices on both sides of controversial issues. For example, pro-life stories would need to include comments from Planned Parenthood or another pro-abortion group, if the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated.

Bush told the NRB conference it won't happen on his watch.

"The very First Amendment to our Constitution includes the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion," he said. "The Founders believed these inalienable rights were endowed to us by our Creator. They are vital to a healthy democracy, and we must never let anyone take those freedoms away.

"Some members of Congress want to reinstate a regulation that was repealed 20 years ago. It has the Orwellian name called the Fairness Doctrine. … Many programs wanting to stay on the air would have to meet Washington's definition of balance.

"We know who these advocates of so-called balance really have in their sights: shows hosted by people like Rush Limbaugh or James Dobson, or many of you here today."

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., is circulating a discharge petition to force a vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act, which would prohibit the FCC from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.

Just 24 signatures are still needed to send the bill to the House floor.

"I urge other members to join in this discharge petition," Bush said. "If Congress should ever pass any legislation that stifles your right to express your views, I'm going to veto it."

TAKE ACTION
Check the list to see if your representative has signed the petition. If not, please ask him or her to do so, as well as support the Broadcaster Freedom Act (H.R. 2905). You can find more information through our Action Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
In his Stoplight video commentary, Stuart Shepard discusses the impact of the Fairness Doctrine with his liberal alter ego.