Your Politicians > Rep. Hirono
Representative Mazie Hirono
Representative: 2007 - present
Phone: 202-225-4906
Fax: 202-225-4987
Website: Congressional Website
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On June 28, 2007, Representative Hirono voted to restrict your freedom of speech. Here is what happened. On June 27, 2007, Representative Pence of Indiana introduced the following amendment:
H.AMDT.484 to H.R.2829 An amendment to prohibit the use of funds to be used by the Federal Communications Commission to implement the Fairness Doctrine, as repealed in General Fairness Doctrine Obligations of Broadcast Licensees or any other regulations having the same substances.
The amendment passed 309 - 115, which meant that 309 of the representatives refused to fund the implementation of the Fairness Doctrine. What is the fairness doctrine? It is a doctrine that would allow the federal government (via the FCC) to force radio stations to present all sides of an issue honestly, equally, and balanced. Wikipedia states that "The Fairness Doctrine was a regulation of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which required broadcast licensees to present controversial issues of public importance, and to present such issues in what was deemed an honest, equal and balanced manner. It has since been withdrawn by the FCC and aspects of it have been questioned by courts." The question becomes what is honest, equal, and balanced. I can't find anywhere in the Constitution where the government is supposed to referree ideas, speech, or thought.
Not all ideas are equal. Some ideas are better than others and shouldn't these ideas get more air time. Let the people decide what ideas are better. We live in a land of free press where you can get any idea, any angle, or any viewpoint at the click of a mouse, the glance of a newspaper, perusing the libraries, and now the government wants to force radio stations to present all sides. All ideas are not worthy of equal airtime, because they are inferior. Why would we ever want the government to determine what is honest, equal, or balanced? Let the market decide this. Since when was the government impartial, honest, equal, or balanced. This is such a slippery slope for the government to even be treading on. It is too easy of a policy to abuse and misuse. My question for Representative Hirono is why did she vote to restrict free speech?