Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has persuaded nearly every House Republican to sign a discharge petition that would force a floor vote on legislation banning the so-called Fairness Doctrine.

One hundred ninety-four out of 200 House Republicans are backing the effort to block the anticipated revival of the Fairness Doctrine, which they believe is a tool Democrats will use to cut down on the number of conservative radio talk shows. The Fairness Doctrine was discarded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during the Reagan administration in 1985. Not one Democrat has signed the petition, which requires 218 signatures to trigger a vote.

The six Republicans who have opted not to sign Pence’s petition are Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Robin Hayes (N.C.), Timothy Johnson (Ill.), Mike Rogers (Ala.), John McHugh (N.Y.) and Ralph Regula (Ohio).

Even though Pence’s appropriations amendment aimed at restricting federal funding for the Fairness Doctrine passed 309-115 in June, it is unclear if that provision will be included in the final bill. Regardless, conservatives are seeking a permanent policy on the Fairness Doctrine.

Each of the six lawmakers who have not signed the discharge petition voted for the Pence amendment in June. Asked why they are not backing the petition, spokesmen for the legislators pointed out they have policies of not signing them. Regula’s office did not comment for this article.

The bill that Pence is seeking a vote on is different than the amendment that passed this summer. It would prohibit future implementation of the Fairness Doctrine by the executive branch without an act of Congress.

Pence is now turning his attention to centrist Democrats who back his bill, though he hasn’t yet gotten any takers.

Leadership officials strongly discourage their members from backing a discharge petition. Every such effort by the House Democratic minority in the last Congress fell short of the required signatures.

A Democratic leadership aide said, “The discharge petition is the ultimate Hail Mary pass, and most fall incomplete.”

Asked if any Blue Dog Democrats had expressed interest in signing the petition, Pence replied, “We have had some inquiries,” but declined to mention specific names.

Rep. John Yarmuth (Ky.), the chief Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, said he hadn’t been asked to sign the Pence petition, adding that he would proceed with caution.

“Since I’ve not done this before, I was advised to always check with leadership when I’m [uncertain],” the freshman lawmaker said.

Rep. Jason Altmire (Pa.), another freshman Democrat, said the issue was important, but he was still mulling whether it warranted bypassing the normal legislative process.

“I’ve looked at it but I’m not signed on yet,” Altmire said. “The FCC said they don’t plan to move on it, and I think that congressional oversight is appropriate here, but I can’t sign a discharge petition for every bill that I support.”

Republicans argue that if conservative radio stations were required to provide equal time for their liberal counterparts, profits would suffer so severely that radio executives would choose to scale back on conservative programming.

Pence, a former radio host, said the growing momentum behind the discharge petition from talk radio hosts has also helped his cause. He has also taken to the airwaves multiple times to explain the need for the Fairness Doctrine to sunset permanently.

Yarmuth, a former columnist and publisher, said the Fairness Doctrine was necessary decades ago because only a few networks controlled the airwaves.

“In today’s world everyone has an opportunity to speak their minds,” he said. “I wouldn’t want equal time for Democrats and Republicans because you would be missing a whole range of other views.”

Other Democrats disagree. Earlier this year, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said, “It’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine.”

Meanwhile, Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has indicated she wants to look at the “legal and constitutional aspects of” reviving the Fairness Doctrine.

In July, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wrote a letter to Pence and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) that said he saw “no compelling reason” to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.