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Top Senate Republican pushes quick indecency vote WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - Senate Republican leader Bill Frist is attempting to work out a deal with Democrats to limit debate on legislation that would increase the fines people pay for broadcasting smut so that a vote on the bill could come Thursday, sources said. Supporters of the legislation had tried to ramrod the legislation through the Senate Tuesday under an expedited procedure, but that ran into problems as various groups and Democrats began to raise objections to voting on the bill without debate. "Frist has been trying to work out time agreements with Democrats so that there will be a short debate and a vote on Thursday," one GOP Senate aide said. But it was unclear late Tuesday whether Frist is going to be able to get Democrats to go along with his plan. Democratic aides also said the Tennessee senator had been working their bosses in an attempt to get a vote before the Senate goes out for spring recess, but no agreement had been reached. "There's no time agreement as of now," a Senate leadership aide said. "There's not been any serious discussions of a time." But Frist's efforts may have gotten a boost as Sen. John Breaux, D-La., is unlikely to push an amendment to include some cable programming under the same indecency regulations that broadcasters have to meet, according to his spokesman Brian Weiss. As defined by the FCC and the courts, material is indecent that "in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities or organs in a patently offensive manner as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium." Obscene speech is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time, but indecent speech can be broadcast from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Breaux's amendment failed by only one vote in the Senate Commerce Committee, but Weiss said the senator was leaning against bringing it up on the floor. "My impression is that he is unlikely to bring it up, but he reserves the right to offer an amendment if he sees fit," Weiss said. Representatives of the creative community also have been pushing lawmakers to at least tone down a provision in the bill that could have individuals facing fines of $500,000 if they make an indecent act on TV or radio. Under the bill that won committee approval, companies could face fines of $275,000-$500,000 for each broadcast indecency. Individuals, however, are automatically subject to the $500,000 fine. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, a major Hollywood union, and the Creative Coalition, a political advocacy group, have been spearheading efforts to get that provision changed. A similar provision is in the version of the bill that overwhelmingly won in the House. Sources within the creative community said they thought they had secured enough support for an amendment that would water down that provision. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and others are considering offering an amendment that would make the fine structure the same for businesses and individuals. The change also would include language that would consider the accused's ability to pay. "But that doesn't mean we agree with the draconian provision," one creative community source said. "Performers are not the right people to be fined." _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
