160,000 Americans Tell Congress Fairness Doctrine Is Unfair

Citizens Urge U.S. House to Consider Broadcaster Freedom Act to Prevent the Return of the "Fairness Doctrine"

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2008—More than 160,000 Americans are expressing their outrage at the possible return of the "fairness doctrine" and at the efforts of the House leadership to deny a fair hearing to a bill that would prevent its return.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the nation's top conservative public interest law firm, said today it has received more than 160,000 signatures-27,000 signatures in the last two weeks alone-on a petition urging the U.S. House of Representatives to consider the Broadcaster Freedom Act, a measure that would prohibit the return of the Fairness Doctrine.  Signatures of the petition have surged this week as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that she wants to see the Fairness Doctrine return and opposes efforts to bring the Broadcaster Freedom Act to the House floor for a vote.

"The American people understand that a return to the Fairness Doctrine puts the government in control of broadcast content and ultimately results in censorship for broadcasters including Christian programming," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ.  "What is also clear is that Americans reject the strategy of House Speaker Pelosi and believe that the Broadcaster Freedom Act should receive an up-or-down vote in the House.  We will continue to work with Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana and others who are pushing forward to get the signatures needed on a Discharge Petition so the Broadcaster Freedom Act will receive the consideration it deserves in the House." 

In order for the Broadcaster Freedom Act to move directly to the House floor for an up-or-down vote, 218 members of the House must sign on to a discharge petition.  Only 22 additional signatures are now needed on the discharge petition to bring the bill to a vote.

The ACLJ Legislative Affairs team today is hand-delivering petition results to members of the House who have not yet signed on to the Discharge Petition.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.  The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org.  The ACLJ's online newsroom can be accessed at www.DeMossNewsPond.com/ACLJ.

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