Amendment would block Fairness Doctrine

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate voted Thursday in favor of an amendment that would bar federal regulators from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine for broadcasting.

Opponents of reinstating the rule -- which required broadcasters to present all sides of controversial issues -- argued that bringing it back would harm conservative talk radio, The Hill reported.

President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have said they oppose reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, which was repealed during the 1980s. U.S. lawmakers have tried twice to re-implement the rule, but those attempts were vetoed by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the newspaper said.

The amendment approved by the Senate Thursday is part of the District of Columbia's voting rights bill. It was sponsored by Senate Republican Steering Committee Chairman Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Senate Republican Conference Vice Chairman John Thune of South Dakota.