The Shrinking Screen

The cost of campaigning by television and radio can keep men of modest means out of politics (TIME, Sept. 21). Those already in office face astronomical bills at election time and the prospect of instant, overwhelming challenges from rich insurgents. Linking the cause of democracy with that of self-preservation, Congress again demonstrated last week, creates a legislative urge that cannot be denied: the lawmakers at last approved a limitation on electronic campaign spending.

The Senate, despite some Republican grumbling, completed final action on the Political Broadcasting Act of 1970 and sent it to President Nixon. The legislation affects federal offices, governorships and lieutenant governorships. The vote--60 to 19, with all but one of the dissenters Republicans--was one-sided enough to discourage a presidential veto. But it came late enough in the political season to preclude any spending curb this year. The Republicans, far better financed than the Democrats, had stalled to prevent the bill's taking effect this year.

Boosting Debates. The major provision limits a candidate's expenditures for air time in a general election to 7-c- for each vote cast for the office in the last contest. The ceiling is 3 1/2-c- a voter in primaries, but presidential and vice presidential candidates are exempt from the primary limitation. In the next presidential election, therefore, the candidates will each be permitted to spend $5.1 million for radio and TV air time. In 1968, Nixon spent $12.7 million and Hubert Humphrey $6.1 million.

To stretch the permissible budgets, the bill requires broadcasters to charge candidates the lowest available commercial rates. In a provision that will make it more difficult for presidential candidates to avoid campaign debates, the measure permanently voids the equal-time section of the Federal Communications Act of 1934. That provision, which will remain in effect for lesser offices, has made it impossible for networks and stations to offer debate time to major candidates without playing host to minor-party candidates.

The new law will not quite do what Kansas Republican James Pearson claimed for it during the Senate debate--move toward restoring the belief that any boy can become President. The bill is silent on spending for other forms of campaigning; presumably, wealthy would-be officeholders are already considering how best to use their financial advantage, and print advertising managers are preparing to show them.

Nor does the new bill affect the cloudy area called the "fairness doctrine," under which the Federal Communications Commission requires broadcasters to air both sides of important issues. Precisely how to apply this when, for instance, the President uses prime time to make his case on inflation or Viet Nam has caused confusion in the TV industry. Whatever its limitations, however, the new measure at least reduces the dollar's impact on politics.

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