roundtable: House Debate on Telecom Begins

roundtable: House Debate on Telecom Begins

House Debate on Telecom Begins

Vigdor Schreibman - FINS (fins@access.digex.net)
Wed, 2 Aug 1995 23:42:10 -0400 (EDT) 

Date: Wed, 2 Aug 1995 23:42:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>
To: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>
Subject: House Debate on Telecom Begins 
Message-Id: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950802233925.24080C-100000@access2.digex.net>


HOUSE DEBATE ON TELECOM BEGINS
First Vote on Rule to be Held at Midnight

Washington, DC--The US House of Representatives began debate Wednesday
night at about 10:30 on the "Communications Act of 1995" [H.R. 1555], and
the first vote on H.Res 207, establishing a modified closed rule, is now
expected to take place at midnight. 

  Many members are expected to offer strong objections to the rule
commencing debate at such a late hour, with strict limitations rather than
ample deliberations on a measure of such great importance.  Others, such
as Dan Burton (R-IN), oppose the rule because the rule would allow the
broadcasters to defeat the possibility of using the "V-chip" as a way to
allow parents to protect their children from violence on TV programming. 
Tim Holden (D-PA), opposed the rule because it would approach debate on a
matter of great complexity and importance "in the dead of night" with
very limited ability of members to propose amendments.  Nevertheless,
there is also strong support for the rule by democrats as well as
republicans.  Rep. David Bonoir (D-MI), for example, said the rule was
"fair" and he urged his colleagues to support the rule and proposed
amendments to the bill.   Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), supported the rule 
as a way to allow Congress to address the need to take control over 
telecommunications matters, "away from the Federal courts, a gaggle of 
Justice Department lawyers, and three floors of AT&T lawyers."

  Debate on the substance of the bill, and the limited authorized
amendments, which could if passed by both Houses and approved and signed
by the President, radically change the global civilization, is not
expected to start until the midnight.  The majority leader Dick Armey
(R-TX), indicated that there will by no vote on the bill itself and
authorized amendments until sometime Thursday, subsequent to taking up
Labor-HHS Appropriations [H.R.  2127]. 

 Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>

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