Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Do ya feel lucky? - July 10, 2012

Recently the Supreme Court ruled on an indecency case involving Fox stations and the Federal Communications Commission.

The court handed down its decision on June 21, 2012. The 8-0 decision did not rule on the constitutionality of the FCC's indecency standards. Instead it say that in this case the Commission did not give "fair notice" to station and networks about a change in the "fleeting expletive" rules.

The Court threw out the fines against the stations involved based on that standard alone.  The Court said the FCC may revise and promulgate rules on indecency with "fair notice to stations."

It looks like the FCC is going to develop revised rules for indecency. FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell said it is time top begin processing the 1.5 million complaints  now that the Court has ruled the Commission has the authority.

Today, July 10, members of the FCC will appear before the House Communications Subcommittee to discus this and other matters.

McDowell noted that in light of recent Supreme Court decisions it is time to revise enforcement rules for indecent content on the airwaves.

More from Broadcasting & Cable


Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 11, the US House of Representatives will make another attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare.  Democrats and the Obama campaign say this is only a symbolic and political vote.  If passed, the House measure has no chance of being taken up by the Democrat controlled Senate and, obviously, never reach the President's desk.

House leadership believes that in this tough election year and with the Supreme Court calling the mandate a "tax," more democrats may vote to repeal the measure.  In the last vote only three democrats including Rep. Larry Kissell (D-NC) voted for repeal. Kissel is in a tough race in North Carolina for his original stance on Obamacare and spending.

Democrats and the Obama campaign call this a political stunt that has no chance of becoming law and chastised the House for not passing Obama's bills for jobs.  The House has passed over 30 jobs bills which continue to sit on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's desk.

More from The Hill


Facing the largest tax increase on the middle class in history - beyond Obamacare - President Obama has pledged to veto any bill that continues tax cuts for all taxpayers. His has pledged to tax the "rich."

In a Rose Garden campaign speech on Monday the President revised his 2010 plan to extend Bush-era tax cuts only for those making under $250,000.

This is the same plan Obama has touted before and has received little or no cooperation from Congress. In this tight election year many democrats are distancing themselves from Obamacare taxes and will certainly not support any higher taxes on struggling middle class families. While Congressional democrat leaders say they will support the President's plan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) say the cut off point should be $1 million dollars.  This could make the debate very contentious in the few legislative days remaining before the election.

Would Obama actually veto a bill that continues the Bush-era tax cuts?  Is the President such an ideologue that he will single-handedly impose the highest tax increase in history?  The answer to both questions is, "Yes."  Well, Mr. President, "Do ya feel luck?  Well do ya?"

More


That's it for now.

No comments: