093_HR0079

 
                                     LRB093 09836 HSS 10083 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS,  Running  for  political   office   has   become
 3    prohibitively expensive for most ordinary citizens; and

 4        WHEREAS,  The  high  cost of broadcast advertising is the
 5    single most significant factor that has driven up the cost of
 6    running for political office; and

 7        WHEREAS,  Many  citizens  believe  radio  and  television
 8    stations do not provide sufficient information about election
 9    issues and candidates; and

10        WHEREAS, The  nation's  broadcast  television  and  radio
11    stations   are   scaling  back  on  substantive  coverage  of
12    candidates and campaign issues even as they  raise  their  ad
13    rates  to  take  advantage  of  the  spike in air time demand
14    generated by elections; and

15        WHEREAS, The increased cost and reduced flow of  campaign
16    communication  on  broadcast television and radio has created
17    an unfair advantage for  wealthy  candidates  and  candidates
18    with   access  to  monied  special  interests,  an  unhealthy
19    development for our democracy; and

20        WHEREAS, The broadcast airwaves belong to the people; and

21        WHEREAS, The people, through  their  federal  government,
22    have  provided  exclusive licenses to broadcasters to operate
23    within assigned frequencies on these airwaves,  but  only  on
24    the condition that they serve the public interest; and

25        WHEREAS,  This  "public  interest"  standard must include
26    providing  opportunities  for  candidates  to  deliver,   and
27    citizens  receive,  a  free and open flow of information just
28    prior to elections so that citizens can cast informed  votes;
29    therefore, be it

30        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
 
                            -2-      LRB093 09836 HSS 10083 r
 1    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that
 2    we support a proposal endorsed by the Free Air Time Coalition
 3    that  calls  on  the  federal  government to require that all
 4    broadcasters provide  increased  coverage  of  campaigns  and
 5    elections  and  a  reasonable  amount  of  free  air  time to
 6    candidates  just  prior  to  elections  as  a  condition   of
 7    receiving their broadcast licenses.