Democrats hope net neutrality issue will win votes this fall

Senate Democrats, joined by three Republicans, pushed through a measure intended to revive Obama-era internet rules that ensured equal treatment for all web traffic, though opposition in the House and the White House seems insurmountable. Republicans on the short end of the 52-47 vote described the effort to reinstate "net neutrality" rules as "political theater" because the GOP-controlled House is not expected to take up the issue and the Senate's margin could not overcome a presidential veto.

Democrats hope net neutrality issue will win votes this fall Source: AP

Senate Democrats, joined by three Republicans, pushed through a measure intended to revive Obama-era internet rules that ensured equal treatment for all web traffic, though opposition in the House and the White House seems insurmountable. Republicans on the short end of the 52-47 vote described the effort to reinstate "net neutrality" rules as "political theater" because the GOP-controlled House is not expected to take up the issue and the Senate's margin could not overcome a presidential veto.

Senate Democrats push to reinstate ‘net neutrality’ rules

Don't expect the House to go along with the Senate's expected passage of legislation that would revive an Obama-era rule requiring equal treatment for all web traffic by internet providers. Opponents such as Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said the Senate's vote later Wednesday on a measure reversing the Federal Communications Commission's decision that scrapped the "net neutrality" rule amounted to "political theater" with no prospects of approval by the GOP-controlled House.

Senate backs effort to restore ‘net neutrality’

Senate Democrats, joined by three Republicans, pushed through a measure Wednesday intended to revive Obama-era internet rules that ensured equal treatment for all web traffic, though opposition in the House and the White House seems insurmountable. Republicans on the short end of the 52-47 vote described the effort to reinstate "net neutrality" rules as "political theater" because the GOP-controlled House is not expected to take up the issue and the Senate's margin could not overcome a presidential veto.

Apology overdue? McCain flap overshadows president’s GOP lunch

Last fall, when President Donald Trump headed to Capitol Hill for the Senate Republican lunch, he was feuding with the powerful chair of the foreign relations panel and tweeted that the man couldn't get elected dog catcher. Now Trump is headed to the weekly GOP lunch embroiled in a controversy over an aide's comment disparaging ailing GOP Sen. John McCain, and the Senate GOP leadership is telling Trump it's past time for an apology from the White House.

Economic optimism makes its way through South Dakota as the nation’s economy adds jobs

"In April, unemployment fell to an 18-year low, and wages are up steadily over the past year," said U.S. Senator from South Dakota John Thune in a released statement from his office. "A few months ago, Congress passed historic tax reform, and since then nearly 800,000 jobs have been created, and more than 500 companies have announced pay raises, bonuses, 401 match increases, and cuts to utility rates as a result.

GOP Senators Losing Their Cool Over White House Vetting Fails

Republican senators are growing increasingly frustrated with the White House for foisting upon them a parade of controversial cabinet nominees whom they believe haven't gone through a proper vetting process. Throughout much of the Trump presidency, those frustrations have been shielded from public view out of deference to the president's right to pick his own team.

Live updates from Mark Zuckerberg’s Congressional testimony

On Tuesday, Facebook's CEO will make his long-anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill, where he will testify before the Senate's Judiciary and Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees. Zuckerberg will speak about Facebook's data privacy policies, which have come under fire in the wake of Cambridge Analytica , as well as the social network's role in combating election interference.

Mark Zuckerberg testimony: Facebook founder grilled by Congress

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg faced sharp criticism in the opening comments of Tuesday's highly anticipated congressional hearing, as he prepared to apologize for a series of missteps that, he acknowledges, have imperiled the privacy of tens of millions of Americans and helped spread both phony news and Russian disinformation. "Mr. Zuckerberg, in many ways you and the company that you've created, the story you've created, represent the American Dream," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., chairman of the Commerce Committee, in his opening remarks.

The Senate Tries to Figure Out Facebook

The sound of the camera shutters told the story. On Tuesday, when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg entered Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees, dozens of photographers crowded the witness table, and the space filled with the sound of rain beating on a tin roof.

The Latest: Yes, Mark Zuckerberg will wear suit in Congress

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, center, arrives for a meeting with Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 9, 2018, in Washington. Zuckerberg will testify Tuesday before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees about the use of Facebook data to target American voters in the 2016 election.

Trump tried going big on DACA. Now he should go small

President Trump's tweet promising "NO MORE DACA DEAL" was an Easter gift to Democrats, letting them off the hook for their failure to seriously negotiate an immigration agreement. Rather than pulling the plug on any Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals talks, Trump should offer Democrats a simple deal: He would agree to codification of President Barack Obama's DACA action in exchange for funding for the president's border wall.

Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress twice next week

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will face questions from two congressional panels next week about how his company handles its users' data. He's set to appear before a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees on Tuesday afternoon followed by a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing the following morning.

Blumenthal hosts ‘semi-autonomous’ vehicle demonstrations at Consumer Reports facility

To continue reading this premium story, you need to become a member. Click below to take advantage of an exclusive offer for new members: U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., sits in the driver seat of a semi-autonomous Cadillac CT 6 in the garage at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center in East Haddam before being given a ride to experience the Cadillac Super Cruise system on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.