Last year, 113 House Democrats voted against the so-called Fairness Doctrine, which would open up conservative talk radio to liberal propaganda.
Yet not a single one of those Democrats has taken a similar position this year, thanks to an apparent order from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., wants the House to vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act, which would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. He needs 21 more signatures to force a vote.
Pence called out the Democrats on the House floor last week.
“Oppose the Democrat leadership’s plan to censor the airwaves of American talk radio and American Christian radio," he said. "Sign the discharge petition for broadcast freedom and help us send the Fairness Doctrine to the ash heap of broadcast history, where it belongs.”
Thousands of Focus on the Family Action petitions were hand-delivered to key Democrats on Tuesday, urging them to sign on.
The so-called Fairness Doctrine was put in place in 1949 to force the nation's TV and radio broadcasters to make time for voices on both sides of controversial issues. It was dropped as new technologies offered an abundance of sources for information and viewpoints.
If resurrected, Christian radio stations discussing topics like abortion likely would have to give airtime to a pro-abortion voice like Planned Parenthood. Some stations may choose to avoid such topics altogether.
Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said the time to act is now.
"The Democrat members of Congress need to hear from their constituents while they are in their home districts for the Independence Day recess," she said. "Members will listen to their constituents who speak up on this important legislation."
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Please protect our freedom of speech by calling your U.S. representative's district office, even if you have called before. You can find more information in our Action Center.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dr. Dobson calls on family advocates to take action to preserve our freedom of speech.
