This strikes me as a very bad idea – especially from a First Amendment standpoint, because it will allow the government to get insert itself into the editorial decisions of those newspapers who accept non-profit status.

Struggling newspapers should be allowed to operate as nonprofits similar to public broadcasting stations, Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., proposed Tuesday.

Cardin introduced a bill that would allow newspapers to choose tax-exempt status. They would no longer be able to make political endorsements, but could report on all issues including political campaigns.

Advertising and subscription revenue would be tax-exempt, and contributions to support coverage could be tax deductible.

Got that – no more political endorsements. But it would no doubt go further than that, as there would no doubt follow requirements that the opinions page reflect a diversity of ideas rather. That would mean, as an example, that a newspaper like the libertarian-leaning Las Vegas Review Journal would need to balance the ideas of a Vin Suprynowicz and his colleagues with some more statist writer – maybe Bill Ayers. Or, from the other side of things, the New York Times might find itself required by the government to provide more conservative columnists to balance its overwhelmingly liberal stable. That is something that government should not be involved in.