Republicans Lose Eshoo's Backing for FCC Process Reform Act
The House Commerce Committee will mark up the FCC Process Reform Act this week but it has lost its one Democratic sponsor. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., had…
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been listed as the authors of the bill when the Communications Subcommittee cleared the measure at a markup earlier this month (see 1505200058). But a Commerce Committee notice about this week’s markup only listed Walden and Kinzinger as authors. A GOP committee aide pointed to the tension during the subcommittee markup between Walden and Eshoo, who wanted certain sunshine rule provisions of the measure to take effect sooner, and confirmed that Eshoo has moved to withdraw her backing. Walden had framed the disagreement with Eshoo as a “breakdown” and argued that what she wanted -- which she had tried to press with an unsuccessful amendment -- was in violation of terms the bill authors had negotiated last Congress. The House has passed the FCC Process Reform Act before but never the Senate. It would compel action from the FCC on comment deadlines and agency transparency. The GOP memo summarizes the provisions. Commerce lawmakers will convene for markup opening statements at 5 p.m. Tuesday and vote at a session beginning 10 a.m. Wednesday, meeting both times in 2123 Rayburn. Commerce posted a version of the measure dated Thursday. An Eshoo spokesman declined comment. The Communications Subcommittee had cleared six other measures, three Democratic FCC process bills by voice vote and three GOP FCC process bills by partisan votes, with Democrats opposed. Those weren't listed on the agenda for this week's markup.