The Latest Anti-Big Tech Bill in Congress Appears to Be Dead – Opinion

Amy Klobuchar, Senator from Minnesota has been working on the Big Tech bill. She was trying to get it through the Senate as an antitrust bill. It would target the biggest tech companies in Silicon Valley. The proposal had some initial Republican support, but what started out as a fast-tracked measure to bring about reform has stalled, thanks in large part to Klobuchar’s own reluctance to actually work with Republicans.

In February of this year, there were signs. Klobuchar had the support of some Republicans, but it soon became clear she wasn’t interested in their `

Initial support for her bill came from Republicans such as Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and John Kennedy, R-Louisiana. However the latter has reportedly stopped backing it and may even want to leave.

This and the Wall Street Journal, among other places, Republicans have been warned that they were stepping into a trap, and Klobuchar seems ready to spring it as she works to make the bill more palatable to Democratic Senators Big Tech’s primary home.

The Hill is reporting that Senate Democrats are pushing the bill forward with Chuck Schumer, aiming for an “early summer” vote. But there’s a problem: This isn’t one of those “reconciliation” things where Schumer can pass a bill with his 50 Democrats plus Kamala Harris. This one will require GOP votes. And he’s going to need more than the usual ten because vulnerable Senate Democrats up for re-election seem to be bailing on the legislation.

Klobuchar was urged by Republicans to amend the bill to be meaningful, however the Democrats ignored the calls and simply amended it as they pleased. From Bloomberg just recently:

Klobuchar tried to address her colleagues’ concerns in a Democratic caucus lunch last month, according to Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), a co-sponsor who still backs the legislation.

Since then, several other Senate Democrats, including Cory Booker (N.J.), a co-sponsor of the measure, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (Wash.), whose state is home to Amazon’s headquarters, have indicated they’re undecided on how they would vote on the floor.

Senate Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.), another co-sponsor, said he is digging into concerns raised by former intelligence officials that the bill would unintentionally curtail platforms’ ability to target disinformation and safeguard users in the US and abroad.

Mazie Hirono and the Democratic Senators of California and Corey Booker made their points heard. The bill was amended according to the needs and preferences (particularly the California legislators, who represent Silicon Valley). Republicans seem to be leaving the Senate.

Officially, this bill cannot be supported by Republicans.

Republicans and Democrats both have explored ways to limit the influence Big Tech has on politics and news, though there is little in common. The bill was just one example of the many ideas that were discussed and put forward. However, it introduced a ton of unnecessary regulations and forced companies not to promote their own apps over other companies’ apps. The result would have been more government interference in private business where there didn’t need to be any.

And it looks like Democrats plan to argue that taking action on antitrust proves they’re “doing something” on inflation, their number one electoral liability. That’s why Schumer wants to pass this in “early summer”—so he can campaign on it in the fall… which is all the more reason Republicans should be (and, according to sources, are) walking away from the bill, leaving it with no path forward.