TAUZIN'S FIRST PRIORITY IS HEARING ON ELECTION COVERAGE
First order of business for new House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) is examination of “the networks’ blown coverage of the Presidential election,” his spokesman Ken Johnson told us. In early Feb., Tauzin will chair hearing by full Committee on issue, Johnson said: “It’s not designed to be confrontational. We simply want to find out why the networks dropped the ball and how we can prevent this from happening again.” He said other early priorities would include FCC reauthorization and reform, giving Bell companies authority to provide advanced services across LATA boundaries, resolution of reciprocal compensation controversy and “long hard look at online privacy.”
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Committee hasn’t been able to reorganize subcommittees yet, let alone name their chairmen. That’s because there’s still contention over how much of Commerce’s jurisdiction over financial services will be transferred to new Financial Services Committee, Johnson said. When that’s done, “we are looking at a wide range of possibilities” for reorganization, he said, declining to offer further specifics.
Committee has been able to name its new 6 GOP members, headlined by returning member Davis (Va.), who went on hiatus from panel to chair GOP campaign committee. He still kept heavily involved in high-tech and telecom issues as member of Govt. Reform Committee. For example, Davis pushed for CLEC access to federally owned buildings and worked on telecom procurement contracts.
Other new Republican members have interest but little reputation yet on high-tech issues: (1) Rep. Radanovich (Cal.). (2) Rep. Pitts (Pa.). (3) Rep. Bono (Cal.). (4) Rep. Walden (Ore.). (5) Rep. Terry (Neb.). Democrats haven’t named their members, and we're told that’s because they still were trying to secure more favorable committee ratios. We're told another GOP member could be added, if new Financial Services Committee Chmn. Oxley (R-O.) leaves Commerce panel.
New House Ways & Means Committee Chmn. Thomas (R-Cal.) will unveil his agenda “soon,” spokesman promised Fri., and high-tech industries are hoping to get sizable piece as panel begins dividing up budget surplus. Thomas’s opponent for chairman, Rep. Crane (R-Ill.), had submitted detailed proposed agenda that included considerable tax breaks for broadband and other technology. By contrast, Thomas remains very much mystery, but he’s expected to be friend of industry as well.
Under former Chmn. Archer (R-Tex.), committee stalled several industry proposals for tax breaks because he didn’t believe in industry-specific tax credits, Prudential Securities analyst James Lucier said. Among proposals expected to resurface and possibly get friendlier reception this year: (1) Tax breaks for broadband deployment. (2) Shorter depreciation time for quickly obsolete assets, issue pushed heavily by wireless industry in particular. (3) Permanent R&D tax credit. (4) Repeal of telecom excise tax.
In Senate, meanwhile, Democrats will get equal representation on committees under power-sharing agreement passed Fri., although Republicans will maintain ability to move bills in event of straight partisan split. Democrats thus will have several appointments to make on all committees, and as result of key election losses Republicans have seats to fill on Commerce and Judiciary panels. Those appointments will be made by leadership, not committee chairmen, said spokeswoman for Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.).