Senate Republicans Aiming to Bring Up Pai Reconfirmation Vote Before Columbus Day, Thune Says
Senate Republicans are still aiming to bring FCC Chairman Ajit Pai up for a floor reconfirmation vote before Columbus Day recess, Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to a deal…
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in August to confirm now-FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel in which the Senate would hold over a vote on Pai and consideration of Carr's nomination to a second full term through 2023. Democrats opposed confirming Pai under unanimous consent because they want time for a floor debate in which they can register their disapproval of some of Pai's actions since he took over the FCC in January (see 1708030060). Thune said he anticipated floor debate and a vote on Pai likely would come in October, given the Senate's other prerecess legislative priorities. He said the amount of time the Senate will debate Pai's reconfirmation depends largely on Senate Democrats' preferences, including “how much of the clock they want to run, how hard they want to make it.” The Senate “will get [Pai] confirmed in the end but [Democrats] can do what they do to delay it,” Thune said.