Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole, R-Kan., whose strong-arm tactics helped kill telecommunications reform legislation in the 103rd Congress, has given the country a sneak preview of what they might expect when lawmakers reassemble early next year.
Dole’s desire for a highly deregulated information superhighway bill was shared by some Bell companies.
Of the Baby Bells, Ameritech, U S West Inc. and BellSouth Corp. are said to have been headstrong opponents of the Senate bill penned and repenned by Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest Hollings, D-S.C.
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Bob Packwood, R-Ore., the only two members of Hollings’ panel to vote against the bill, criticized the measure as too regulatory.
It wasn’t just Republicans who had problems with the Senate bill, though. Retiring Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, wanted changes.
The House, which overwhelming approved telecommunications reform legislation in June, was forced to watch from the sidelines.
“The demise of this bipartisan legislation in the Senate…means that the information superhighway will be delayed unnecessarily, will not generate as many jobs as it could, will not go to every neighborhood, will be dominated by a monopolist, and will not be open and accessible,” said House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey, D-Mass.
So the Senate bill wasn’t perfect. Dole and Hollings promised to pass a bill next year, when perhaps a new crop of Mr. Smiths come to Washington, D.C. While Republicans talk of wrestling control of the House and Senate from Democrats in mid-term elections next month, some believe total victory for Republicans is not necessary or even desirable.
According to one theory, it may be in the Republicans’ best interest to gain working control rather than actual control of Congress for the time being. In doing so, Republicans and Southern Democrats would have enough clout to tie up Clinton-backed legislation in the two years leading up to the 1996 presidential campaign.
Gridlock would be blamed on the Democratic-controlled Congress, and Clinton made to look weak and ineffective. At that point, Republicans would be primed to take over both Congress and the White House.
It’s an interesting theory, but I can’t imagine Dole wanting to wait another minute to become Senate Majority Leader. The only thing he wants more is Clinton’s job.
Still, what an ironic ending to the great info-highway debate of 1994.
On the one hand, you have Vice President Al Gore as the administration’s cheerleader for the information superhighway. And heading the trade group housing the Baby Bells-which are blamed along with Dole for sabotaging the legislation-is former Gore sidekick, Roy Neel. Hey, no hard feelings, Al. It’s just business. And then there’s Dole, Mr. Republican, nixing pro-competition legislation.
So, with legislative and judicial uncertainty continuing for the Bells and others, it looks like it will be wireless telecommunications that keeps construction of the infohighway alive.
Gotta look on the bright side, Fritz.-Jeffrey Silva
