July 17, 2009 - WASHINGTON, DC - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) this morning blocked a move by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) to give the Broadcaster Freedom Amendment an up-or-down vote under special House rules.

It’s the second time this week that Speaker Pelosi blocked the Broadcaster Freedom Amendment, offered by Walden and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), which would bar funding for the so-called Fairness Doctrine and proposed FCC rules that subject political and faith-based radio and TV stations to strict government oversight.

Two years ago, 309 members—including 113 Democrats—voted to pass a similar amendment, which has since expired. Speaker Pelosi is one of many Democratic leaders in Congress who has expressed support for a return of government censorship of the airwaves.

“We have the votes to pass this amendment on the floor, yet Speaker Pelosi shuts us down at every turn,” said Walden, who operated small market radio stations with his wife for over 21 years. “All we want is the opportunity to give broadcaster freedom a vote on the House floor. Make no mistake, there are leaders in Congress who have made it clear they support government censorship. I take them at their word, and won’t let up this fight until we get it in writing that the government won’t launch a takeover of the airwaves.”