Free Time Not Cure, TV Lobbyist Argues Campaign Reform Proposals Called ‘Political Food Stamps’

Forcing television stations to give free time to politicians violates the stations’ First Amendment rights, a top lobbyist for the nation’s broadcasters argued Tuesday.

James May, executive vice president for the National Association of Broadcasters, criticized a campaign finance reform proposal in Congress.

“Free time will not cure illegal contributions,” he told a luncheon crowd at the second-annual Thomas S. Foley Institute address. “It’s not going to change negative campaigning or even the high cost of campaigns.”

One campaign finance proposal, sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Russ Feingold, D-Wis., suggests broadcasters be required to give candidates free time in exchange for limits on what the candidates can collect and spend.

“Proposals of free time are nothing short of government-mandated speech,” May said. They amount to “political food stamps for politicians,” he contended.

Television and radio stations already offer candidates numerous chances to air their views, he said. They sponsor debates and issues forums, and most sell time for political commercials at the lowest advertising rate.

Candidates routinely refused offers of free time during the last campaign, he added.

The media, politicians and academia should look for better ways to improve political debate and involve more Americans, May said.

A one-time candidate for Congress in central Washington, May is a former broadcaster who later lobbied for Pepsi and Coke.

He was introduced as “a leading voice in media in the U.S.” by Foley, who returned to his hometown for the annual luncheon sponsored by the Washington State University institute on government studies that bears his name.

May and others joked with Foley about a persistent rumor that has the former House speaker being named U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Foley said he’s heard nothing official about the appointment.

“It would be a great honor to represent the United States in any country,” he said in an interview. “But I can’t say anything on the record” about the Japanese ambassadorship.

, DataTimes