Obama, Kerry Threaten FCC Funding Over Ownership Vote

[EV_Ares]

WASHINGTON -- December 17, 2007: The heat has been turned up even higher on FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and his plan to have the commission vote Tuesday on his proposed changes to the FCC's media-ownership rules as Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL, pictured) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) have said they will ask the Senate Appropriations Committee to deny funding to implement the new rules if Martin goes ahead with the vote.

Last week Martin testified before the Senate Commerce Committee -- after a contentious exchange with Kerry -- that he planned to proceed with the vote on his proposal to partly relax the long-standing newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership ban by allowing cross-ownership in the top 20 markets if certain conditions are met.

Obama and Kerry's letter to Martin, dated December 14, says "the intent of the Senate Commerce Committee was made clear" when it passed the Media Ownership Act.

The Media Ownership Act was introduced by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Trent Lott (R-MS) a few days before Martin's proposal was made public. It would, among other things, require the FCC to establish an independent panel on female and minority ownership and await that panel's recommendations before voting on any changes to the ownership rules. The Senate Commerce Committee passed that bill on December 4.

rest of the article @ link: http://radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=140431&pt=todaysnews

[rosesaylavee]

1. Good for them - WOOT!

That little creep needs more than a public smack down - an investigation into how he thinks he can act against the citizens and the citizens representatives wishes and still keep his fucking job.

Those who would like their blood pressure to rise a little bit more this morning, Bill Moyers had a segment on this on his 12/14 show. Short video on background here: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/12142007/profile2.html

[kurth]

3. That video is a must see

Typical Republican thug.

[rosesaylavee]

4. I don't know why I continue to be shocked... but that footage

shocked for his audacious and utter disregard for the citizens who stayed until 1:00 am to be heard and THEN to disregard the senate and house committees who wanted him to reconsider his proposal. He's not even trying to cover up what he is doing. Unbelievable.

[rosesaylavee]

2. kick for one more rec

[mirrera]

5. I don't think Martin cares one little bit...

It is obvious that they all ready have a high paying job waiting for him. He is there for one reason and one reason only, to do this for the Media Companies. Period! These robber barons have infested every department of government and are laughing their asses off at these quaint parries by our "esteemed colleagues", "My friends on the other side of the aisle", "The Senates' distress", etc. They are laughing at it all. Gonzales's smirk said it all. Perino with her "futile" remark, all of it. Martin is putting up with all this "crap" for a job that is waiting for him. He is "paying his dues", "Making Bones". This is just based on my lying eyes and my gut.

[madrchsod]

6. obama is putting zell in a bad position

zell-the owner of the tribune company- is taking the company private and there is a feeling he`s going to sell everything he can to make money on the deal. but he may be forced into a fire sale which he certainly won`t be happy about. right now he has the cubs(?) and wrigley field up for sale along with the la paper. it`s going to be interesting how this plays out in barrack`s back yard.