With Mr. Bush's belated decision yesterday, Congress's moratorium on offshore drilling is now the last major political barrier to increasing domestic oil-and-gas production. Yet Democratic leaders have refused to schedule even a single hearing on the topic.

Bush says offshore drilling could yield up to 18 billion barrels of oil over time, although it would take years for production to start. Bush also says offshore drilling would take pressure off prices over time. In addition, the president has proposed opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, lifting restrictions on oil shale leasing in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and easing the regulatory process to expand oil refining capacity.

"All it takes is one appointment to the FCC of someone who would want to bring this back and there you go," said Matt Lloyd, spokesman for Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., a former talk radio host who is leading the legislative crusade
against the return of the doctrine…

Still, Mr. Pence and some of his Republican colleagues think the Fairness Doctrine is enough of a threat to require pre-emptive action.

One year ago, Mr. Pence introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act, which Mr. McCain co-sponsored, but Ms. Pelosi has declined to schedule a vote on the bill. Mr. Pence is currently gathering signatures for a discharge petition to force the bill onto the floor of the House.

When asked about claims that Democrats would not seek to reinstate the doctrine if they won the presidency in 2008, Mr. Lloyd, the Pence spokesman, said he did not buy them.

"You could count me, along with a number of other Republicans, skeptical," he said.

In particular, talk of increased "broadcast localism" has raised hackles. Some say such policies would have the same end as the Fairness Doctrine.

"Localism is a stealth Fairness Doctrine," Mr. Lloyd said.

Congressman Pence released the following statement today regarding the passing of former White House press secretary Tony Snow:

"Tony Snow's passing is a national loss. His intellect, his decency and his professionalism set a high standard for conservatives in public service and journalism. America will miss his voice and I will miss a friend."

In a clear sign that the movement is gaining steam, newspapers across the country are weighing in with editorials. Here are a few that ran within the past couple of days:

Rocky Mountain News

Here's hoping a handful of Democrats break ranks and put free speech above party loyalty. President Bush would surely sign Pence's bill. And Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is a sponsor of the Senate version.

Daily Herald (Utah)

But this isn't a complex issue that requires deep study. It's very simple and clear: Reviving the Fairness Doctrine would be a flagrant attempt to stifle free speech for the benefit of a political party that is not now, and may never be, very popular in broadcast programming.

Augusta Chronicle

Democratic nominee-to-be Barack Obama has said he "doesn't support" the Fairness Doctrine. But that's different from opposing it. It's possible the tepid "doesn't support it" could change or simply yield under pressure from his Democratic colleagues. And, as columnist and Phoenix radio talk show host Austin Hill notes, Obama once was a huge proponent of spending limits under public financing of presidential campaigns -- until he found he could raise a lot of money and spend it with no limits.

White House weighs in

In addition, the White House weighed in last week, with White House Press Secretary Dana Perino saying the President supports the Broadcaster Freedom Act and Congressman Pence’s efforts to bring it to the floor for a vote. Human Events has the story here.

Excerpt:

Perino did not rule out helping Pence round up the signatures he needs to get his measure out of committee. When I asked if the President or other Administration officials would help Pence in getting the required signatures on the discharge petition, she replied: “I’ll see if there’s anything [the] legislative affairs office [in the White House] is working on in that regard.”

Discharge Petition update

The discharge petition currently has 196 signatures. Only 22 more are needed to bring the Broadcaster Freedom Act to the floor for a vote. Click here for a list of signatures (note: some Members on this list may not be serving any longer, hence the different total).