Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), speaking on the Senate floor this week.
“On #NetNeutrality
, it’s clear @SenateGOP is listening to corporate lobbyists and not their constituents. Because if they were, there would only be one choice: support my resolution to save net neutrality .”
— @SenMarkey, Wednesday, Feb. 28th.
On the heels of a momentous net neutrality law being passed in Washington State, Democrats in the Senate are seizing on the momentum. Accordingly, a consortium of Senators led by Ed Markey have formally introduced a measure to protect net neutrality in America.
The resolution, if passed, would trigger the Congressional Review Act. That has the power to overturn any federal agency rule, including those of the FCC.
Still, that’s considered a prayer in a Republican-controlled Congress. Currently, the Senate is just one vote shy of forcing a vote to block the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality. Already, just one Republican (Susan Collins of Maine) has crossed the aisle to support the initiative, sensing problems ahead in midterm elections.
Alongside two independents, that brings the vote tally to 50-50, which likely ensures its defeat. That’s because Vice President Mike Pence is certain to cast a tie vote against the bill, killing it instantly. A 51-49 matter eliminates that hurdle, but still sends the bill to a die in the Republican-controlled House.
Which is exactly the point of the whole exercise.
Democrats are smartly seeing net neutrality as a serious campaign issue ahead, and forcing their Republican enemies to declare their allegiances. By forcing a vote on the matter — in both chambers — every Republican will be branded by a formal vote against net neutrality on the campaign trail.
All of which makes it easier for Democrats to attack them. That’s because an overwhelming majority of Americans seem to support net neutrality, based on numerous polls. Dial into younger generations like Millennials and Generation Z, and support for net neutrality protections become overwhelming.
Accordingly, Markey has been leading the #OneMoreVote crusade.
“We are coming for our #NetNeutrality and we are not going to stop. #OneMoreVote,” Markey tweeted on Tuesday. Markey also stumped the issue in front of passionate crowds on Capitol Hill. “Whose side are you on?” Markey exclaimed to a crowd assembled outside the Capitol.
“Do you stand with the big-money corporate interests and their army of lobbyists?”
Meanwhile, Trump’s FCC Commissioner faces a bumpy ride ahead.
Already, U.S. states are in various stages of rebellion on the matter, making nationwide implementation of net neutrality a difficult prospect. On Tuesday, Washington State passed the first law protecting net neutrality. But that’s the first of several expected laws, with California and Oregon expected to follow suit in March.
In just 30 days, it’s likely that the entire western seaboard of the United States will have laws protecting net neutrality. Already, pro-neutrality laws have passed the lower House chambers in both California and Oregon by wide margins. That suggests rapid passages in both upper Senate chambers, and signatures into law by March 31st.
Beyond that, a total of 22 U.S. state attorneys general have filed formal lawsuits against the FCC. Those actions officially moved forward last week, thanks the FCC’s formal filing of its repeal measure with the Federal Register.
A last, but not least: five separate U.S. state governors have now signed Executive Orders prohibiting any state-contracted ISPs from breaking net neutrality provisions. Breaking those Orders would result in quick elimination of state contracts, and the loss of potentially lucrative revenue sources.