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US Congress News |
Maurice Hinchey during a meeting of Future of American Media Caucus.
by John Hamilton
US Representative Maurice Hinchey gave a powerful speech before a packed crowd at the Ithaca Town Hall on the importance of the 'London memos', a series of emails from official sources in Britain that establish the Bush Administration was 'fixing the intelligence', i.e. lying, to the American public, the US Congress, US allies, and the UN.
In the course of his talk, Hinchey mentioned a current priority of his in Congress, the Media Project. PN talked to him about this and other current initiatives in Congress to halt and reverse the direction the country is taking.
PN: Describe your Media Project.
MH: We are introducing legislation which would prevent a handful of corporations from owning all the TV and radio stations in the country. If consolidation of ownership continues, a handful of people will control all the ideas in America. The legislation will create more diversity, local control, local input over radio, TV, newspapers, and other forms of media.
PN: What specifically does the proposed legislation call for?
MH: Roll back the number of stations a single corporation can control. Provide for periodic review of licensure. This review will require radio and TV stations are serving the communities they operate in. It would reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, which requires a broadcaster to present a range of political points of view.
PN: You are part of the Progressive Caucus in the House of Representatives. Can you tell us about some other goals you have.
MH: The Progressive Caucus was formed to assure honesty in government. To make the Food and Drug Administration more responsive to the public rather than corporations. To increase the Federal minimum wage. To institute national health insurance.
Some in Congress are moving the country in a positive direction, much more in keeping with the needs of people. We will continue to raise issues and press forward.
Contact: (202) 225-6335
Web: www.house.gov/hinchey/
US Representative Maurice Hinchey gave a powerful speech before a packed crowd at the Ithaca Town Hall on the importance of the 'London memos', a series of emails from official sources in Britain that establish the Bush Administration was 'fixing the intelligence', i.e. lying, to the American public, the US Congress, US allies, and the UN.
In the course of his talk, Hinchey mentioned a current priority of his in Congress, the Media Project. PN talked to him about this and other current initiatives in Congress to halt and reverse the direction the country is taking.
PN: Describe your Media Project.
MH: We are introducing legislation which would prevent a handful of corporations from owning all the TV and radio stations in the country. If consolidation of ownership continues, a handful of people will control all the ideas in America. The legislation will create more diversity, local control, local input over radio, TV, newspapers, and other forms of media.
PN: What specifically does the proposed legislation call for?
MH: Roll back the number of stations a single corporation can control. Provide for periodic review of licensure. This review will require radio and TV stations are serving the communities they operate in. It would reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, which requires a broadcaster to present a range of political points of view.
PN: You are part of the Progressive Caucus in the House of Representatives. Can you tell us about some other goals you have.
MH: The Progressive Caucus was formed to assure honesty in government. To make the Food and Drug Administration more responsive to the public rather than corporations. To increase the Federal minimum wage. To institute national health insurance.
Some in Congress are moving the country in a positive direction, much more in keeping with the needs of people. We will continue to raise issues and press forward.
Contact: (202) 225-6335
Web: www.house.gov/hinchey/
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