Reps. McMillin, Knollenberg, Hansen, Horn, Caul, Cushingberry, Daley, Green, Haines, Rick Jones, Kowall, Kurtz, Lund, Moss, Opsommer, Pavlov, Rogers, Amash and Marleau offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 25.

            A resolution to urge Congress to oppose the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine.

            Whereas, Many citizens and organizations are deeply concerned about the so-called "fairness doctrine," which would dictate to broadcasters that they present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance. Bringing back this requirement to broadcast media would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves. Government should not be in the business of rationing free speech; and

            Whereas, The Fairness Doctrine clearly violates the First Amendment in the United States Constitution, which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances"; and

            Whereas, Freedom of speech includes written, spoken word, or electronic communication; and

            Whereas, In a free society, fairness should be determined on the basis of equal opportunity, not equal results. Since the expiration of the fairness doctrine requirement, talk radio has emerged as a dynamic forum for public debate and an asset to the nation; and

            Whereas, If the fairness doctrine is reinstituted, it will place a major financial burden on many small radio stations that currently carry politically oriented programming. Demands to provide equal time may be cost prohibitive, which may cause some stations not to carry any talk radio programming at all; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge Congress to oppose the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.