John Boehner, the House Republican Leader, has requested TV air time following President Obama's speech to a Joint Session of Congress next week.
Boehner
sent a formal request to the cable news channels and to each of the television networks, so that they could make time for an official response. So far, NBC and ABC will cover both Mr. Obama's speech and the Republican response to it. CBS is on the fence, as is the FOX broadcasting network. Cable news channels, FOX News, CNN, and MSNBC are expected to cover both speeches.
When sending the request, Boehner noted that following an address to Congress, the minority party is given time for a response. In 1993, following President Clinton's speech to a Joint Session of Congress over healthcare reform, Governor Carroll Campbell (R-SC) was allowed to give an official response.
President Obama is scheduled to address Congress on Wednesday, September 9th at 8 pm. There is not word yet on who will give the official Republican response speech following the President.
