[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FAIRNESS IN POLITICAL ADVERTISING ACT

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2018

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce my bill, the 
Fairness in Political Advertising Act. It's time to level the playing 
field for viable candidates to compete against campaigns bankrolled by 
special interests. My bill would provide this access. It would require 
television stations to make available 2 hours of free advertising 
broadcast time during each even-numbered year, to each qualified 
political candidate in a statewide or national election.
  The direction we are headed, only millionaires or corporate interests 
will have a seat at the representative table. This is unacceptable in 
our democracy.
  Of the money raised in political campaigns, the largest expense for 
campaigns is advertising. Even today in this internet world, most 
dollars are still spent on television ads. In the 2014 midterms, $2.8 
billion was spent on political television ads. In 2018, Cook Political 
Report estimates $2.4 billion will be spent on local broadcast and 
another $850 million for local cable.
  The math is clear: to be a viable candidate in America today, you 
need an incredible amount of capital. Our Fathers would be ashamed of 
this truth.
  We must return to an era of access for all. Mr. Speaker, I urge you 
to bring the Fairness in Political Advertising Act to the floor for a 
vote today and work to level the playing field for all candidates who 
want to participate in our democracy. Access should not require a 
campaign bankrolled by special interests. I urge all my colleagues to 
support this legislation.

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