NASHVILLE, TN — In a move that tax activists might call pork barrel political pandering at its most obvious and un-kosher, all 31 present members of the Tennessee Legislature voted to support the doomed SB0014, otherwise known as the Girls Gone Wild bill.Sponsored by Senator Doug Jackson (D-Dickson), who considers commercials for the popular softcore series to be promoting “the sale of an obscene product through television sets into our living room.”
Although Jackson acknowledges that breasts and genitals are obscured during the late night commercials, the Associated Press quotes him as insisting that the law is needed, because “Obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment.”
The vote is likely more an attempt to demonstrate political conscience, given that the bill has been declared constitutionally questionable and never survived its trip through the House last month.
State Attorney General Bob Cooper issued an opinion stating that he doubted the constitutionality of the bill because it lacked a “safe-harbor” provision that would allow indecent material to be broadcast during late night viewing hours when minors are less likely to view television programming. Cooper additionally proposed that federal regulations supersede state law when it comes to public and private television.
Jackson has vowed to see the bill, as seen by the House, enacted into law during the second session of next year’s 105th General Assembly.
The full text of SB0014 can be read at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us.
