Kennedy, Murkowski Don't Declare Public Position on Net Neutrality CRA Before Wednesday Vote
Two Republican senators told us Tuesday they weren't ready to announce a particular stance on the Congressional Review Act resolution aimed at reversing the FCC order to rescind 2015 net neutrality rules (Senate Joint Resolution-52) before an expected Wednesday floor…
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vote (see 1805140045). A final vote is expected after 3 p.m., hours after the vote on an initial motion to proceed, a Senate aide told us. “It's going to be like final exams,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.; “I'm going to be studying right up until the time I've got to” vote on the resolution. Kennedy has repeatedly noted his ongoing review of research on net neutrality and meetings with the Congressional Research Service on the measure. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she has “still not” finalized on her position. Both have been viewed as potentially joining the 50 senators who publicly support the CRA measure so long as they aren't viewed as the decisive yes. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters he's unsure if additional Republican senators besides Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, will support the legislation. “Nobody has informed us that they're going to be voting for it,” Thune said: “I've been talking pretty regularly with all of our members who I know are concerned about that issue and I have no reason to believe” they will defect. Groups on both sides of the debate continued to make their respective cases on the CRA measure Tuesday. CTIA, NCTA and USTelecom jointly called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to vote down the resolution. Consumers Union was among those urging the Senate to support it.