Cruz Balks on 3rd Sohn Confirmation Hearing Soon After Senate Commerce Organizes
Incoming Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, objects to a proposal from panel Democratic leaders to have a third confirmation hearing on FCC nominee Gigi Sohn almost immediately after the committee formally organizes, Hill aides and lobbyists told us. Sohn’s supporters want Senate Commerce to expedite its handling of Sohn’s confirmation process as much as possible, but Republicans want a full re-vetting of the nominee (see 2301030060). Senate Commerce’s organization itself is unlikely until sometime next week given expectations Wednesday that the chamber won’t be able to vote on an overall organizing resolution until Tuesday at the earliest.
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House Commerce Committee Republicans, meanwhile, named Rep. Bob Latta of Ohio Wednesday as Communications Subcommittee chairman, as expected (see 2211170089). Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida will chair the Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee, the new name for what was the Consumer Protection Subcommittee during the last Congress, House Commerce said. Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia will be Communications vice chair, and Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan will be deputy on Innovation.
Cruz balked at making the Sohn confirmation hearing one of Senate Commerce’s first events after it organizes, a proposal sought by committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chamber aides and lobbyists said. That would have allowed a hearing as soon as Feb. 2, which would have given Republicans too little time to prepare to question the nominee, lobbyists said. A hearing the week of Feb. 6 is possible, which would also be earlier than thought likely as recently as last week (see 2301200058), lobbyists said. Cantwell intends to “get it done as soon as possible,” a Commerce spokesperson told us. Cruz’s office didn’t comment.
The final timing of a new Sohn hearing remains strongly dependent on when Senate Commerce formally organizes, which appeared Wednesday afternoon to remain unclear into next week. “Unfortunately I don’t think we’re going to be able” to enact an organizing resolution that would set committee rosters “this week” amid GOP caucus wrangling, Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters. Republicans declined a bid by new Sen. Eric Schmitt (R) of Missouri for a waiver allowing him to sit on the Judiciary Committee. Schmitt needed a waiver to join Judiciary because fellow Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley (R) already is on the panel. GOP rules otherwise bar senators from the same state from being on the same committee. Schmitt “is going to have to pick” other committees, which creates a “domino effect” that could change GOP membership on other panels, Thune said.
“It’s been well over a year” since President Joe Biden first nominated Sohn in October 2021 (see 2110260076) and there may be “new members” on Senate Commerce who “obviously are going to want to have input” on whether the panel outright advances the nominee, said Thune, who’s expected to remain Communications Subcommittee ranking member, in an interview. “I don’t know” whether such a hearing will uncover any new information that might cause any incumbent Senate Commerce members to change their stance on advancing her, he said. The panel tied 14-14 on Sohn in March 2022 (see 2203030070), beginning a stall that lasted through the remainder of the year.
"I’m surprised" Sohn "wants to go through" the confirmation process again given Republicans’ strong criticisms of her record during her 2021 and 2022 appearances (see 2202090070) before Senate Commerce, Thune said. Panel Republicans criticized Sohn during a December 2021 hearing over her past social media posts critical of major telecom and media companies (see 2112010043). Her February appearance before Commerce focused on her role as a board member for Locast operator Sports Fans Coalition and her commitment to temporarily recuse herself from some FCC proceedings involving retransmission consent and broadcast copyright matters (see 2202090070).
Bilirakis, Latta and other incoming House Commerce subcommittee chairs “are exceptionally qualified to lead our team and help our committee deliver on the promises we made to the American people,” said panel Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “They will be instrumental in our efforts to tackle the greatest challenges and most important priorities of the day,” including “beating China” and “building a more secure future.” House Democrats haven’t announced their committee membership rosters, but Rep. Doris Matsui of California will become Communications ranking member (see 2211210058) and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois is expected to retain her role as lead Democrat on Innovation, lobbyists said.
"I look forward to building on the advancements we have made in recent years, including increasing access to reliable internet via rural broadband, cracking down on illegal robocalls, and unleashing more spectrum," Latta said. "And while the subcommittee has made great strides to increase accountability for online platforms, we are prepared to build upon these efforts to protect children from online predators and rein in Big Tech’s influence and censorship" on social media platforms.
Ten of the 15 House Communications GOP members for this Congress didn’t belong to the subpanel last year, including eight of the nine Republicans who are new to the overall House Commerce roster (see 2301110046): Rick Allen of Georgia, Troy Balderson of Ohio, Kat Cammack of Florida, Neal Dunn of Florida, Russ Fulcher of Idaho, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, John Joyce of Pennsylvania, Jay Obernolte of California, August Pfluger of Texas and Randy Weber of Texas. Walberg and five other Republicans are joining House Innovation: Allen, Cammack, Fulcher, Harshbarger and Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina.