Bill To Cut Cost Of TV In Elections

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32274, 17 April 1970, Page 13

Bill To Cut Cost Of TV In Elections

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, April 16.

The United States Senate, with an eye on the forthcoming election campaign, has passed a bill designed to cut the high cost of television advertising which has played a major and expensive role in American politics during recent years. The Senate yesterday approved by 58 votes to 27 a bill requiring television and radio stations to sell time to political candidates for the same rates available to large commercial advertisers.

The bill, which now goes to the House of Representatives,' also eliminates the require-' ment that equal time be given, to all candidates. This means; screen confrontations likej those between President Nixon and the late President Kennedy in 1960, might be held without stations having, to give the same time to minor party candidates, The bill also limits radioand television spending by a: candidate for President, VicePresident or Congress, to 7c for each vote cast for all candidates for the office during the previous election, or $20,000 —whichever is greater.