The National Journal’s Drew Clark has this about how House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) is trying to keep the equally powerful House Judiciary Committee from meddling with telecom reform legislation. Judiciary was slated to hold hearings on telecom-related matters on Friday April 7, but voting in the House was cancelled early that morning, which translated into an exodus of members back to their districts, which in turn resulted in a cancelled hearing.
Barton and House Telecom and Internet Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) are trying to kill amendments that might end up allowing Judiciary to get its mitts on the bill, including those that deal with cable program access, consumer protection or liability for e911 dispatchers. Judiciary’s involvement would surely slow the legislative engine, although with so few days left on the legislative calendar this year, it looks like Telecom Act rewrite legislation won’t gain steam again until next year…and next Congress.
Barton and House Telecom and Internet Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) are trying to kill amendments that might end up allowing Judiciary to get its mitts on the bill, including those that deal with cable program access, consumer protection or liability for e911 dispatchers. Judiciary’s involvement would surely slow the legislative engine, although with so few days left on the legislative calendar this year, it looks like Telecom Act rewrite legislation won’t gain steam again until next year…and next Congress.
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