What a difference a decade makes. Shortly before the
House Commerce Committee approved hiking
indecency fines to a $500,000 maximum, Republicans on the committee recalled a
time when they opposed such heavy-handed rules.
Indiana's Steve Buyer reminded
committee colleagues that he, like 80% of House Republicans, rejected the
government's last attempt to shield children from sex and violence in 1995:
the V-chip requirement.
At the time, the channel-blocking technology was viewed as the least
restrictive of free speech—without all the chilling effect of a fine—since
it gave parents a choice. “Republicans who had a libertarian view back then
were saying, 'You've got an on/off switch,'” he said. “Now all of
sudden we're saying, 'How far is indecency going, and what type of
proactive move should we take?'”
Latest Videos FromBroadcasting+Cable
Committee Chairman Joe Barton, who also
voted against the V-chip, thanked Buyer, then quickly chose another lawmaker to
speak.
Other Commerce Committee Republicans who voted against the V-chip: New
Hampshire's Charles Bass, Georgia's
Nathan Deal and Charlie
Norwood, Arizona's John Shadegg,
Florida's Michael Bilirakis and
Cliff Stearns, and Kentucky's
Ed Whitfield. Each voted for the higher
fines.
