DTV Delay Bill Delayed by House Republicans

The House Wednesday failed to follow the Senate's lead and pass a digital television transition date-change bill. The vote was 258 to 168 in favor of changing the date, but under House expedited rules, a 2/3 majority was required for approval. The House had debated the bill Tuesday night, with a parade of Republicans in opposition and only House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher(D-VA) holding down the fort for the bill's proponents. The House Commerce Committee's ranking member, Joe Barton (R-TX), is dead set against moving the date, calling it a potential disaster and saying the $650 million being set aside for reissued coupons for millions of people was a pot of money in search of a problem. It didn't help that Republican leadership put out a policy statement Tuesday saying "House Republicans oppose any further delay in the deadline." Missouri Republican Rep. Roy Blunt said his vote against the DTV bill was primarily about public safety. "Every day that goes by without this transition is another day that our firefighters, policemen and EMTs cannot effectively communicate," he said. Reps Joe Barton (R-TX) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL) wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) promoting their solution to the digital television woes. Their bill would free up $250 million more in funds and preclude the need for $650 million in coupon and DTV education funds that was put in the economic stimulus package.