Media ownership issue revived in Congress

[onehandle]

Nov. 24, 2003  |  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House demanded a compromise Monday on its seemingly dead plan to let networks own more television stations as lawmakers put finishing touches on a year-end $390 billion spending package.

Five days after lawmakers said they would use the massive bill to block the Bush administration's proposal on media ownership, bargaining over the issue resumed after the administration renewed its threat to otherwise veto the entire measure. On the day before congressional leaders planned to have the spending bill in its final form, there were other loose ends.

Guns rights advocates were battling to ease federal reporting requirements on firearms owners. And discontent over issues ranging from home-district projects to new Bush administration rules on overtime pay was threatening to derail the hopes of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., for his chamber to approve the overall bill Tuesday and adjourn for the year.

The House will not vote on the bill until at least early December. The measure wraps together the final seven spending bills for the budget year that began Oct. 1, covering scores of agencies from the Agriculture Department to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/11/24/media_ownership/index.html

[0rganism]

1. They will not rest until all media is owned by Rupert Murdoch

Sieg Heil!

[54anickel]

2. Jeez, Why not let the little SOB go ahead and VETO the damn thing!

From this little snip it looks like the bastards thought they had a done deal:

Because of mergers and acquisitions, Viacom Inc., which owns CBS and UPN, and News Corp., owner of Fox, exceed the current 35 percent limit.