[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           PROVIDING FREE AIR TIME TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

  (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an 
article in this morning's Washington Post. Although I cannot say that I 
have always agreed with Fox Broadcasting Co. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, I 
am delighted that he has endorsed the idea--my idea--of providing free 
TV time to political candidates.
  Mr. Murdoch has announced that he will give Presidential candidates 
free air time this fall. Last year, I introduced legislation to provide 
candidates this kind of access to our airways, and, to give voters a 
truer picture of the candidates.
  Due to obfuscating and expensive political commercials, voters rarely 
witness what candidates truly stand for. The time has come to even the 
playing field and provide a mechanism to rid our airways of 
manipulative advertising campaigns, and return elections to the voters.
  Mr. Murdoch has challenged his competitors to provide free TV time. I 
am challenging my colleagues to cosponsor my bill to ensure that 
broadcasters provide free TV time.

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