If digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future has its way, net neutrality will be a key election issue in 2018.
Its new campaign, launched Wednesday, escalates the pressure on U.S. lawmakers to defend net neutrality by voting for a “resolution of disapproval” under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s recent vote to gut the protections.
“If they don’t vote for net neutrality, we won’t vote for them. They’ll listen, or pay.”With the CRA, Congress has the power to overturn newly passed regulations with a simple majority voteāand could thus overrule the GOP-controlled commission’s widely opposed move.
The campaign website states: “The FCC just ignored the public and killed net neutrality. But in 2018, Congress will have a simple up or down vote on whether to overturn the FCC or betray 83 percent of American voters, in a close election year. If they don’t vote for net neutrality, we won’t vote for them. They’ll listen, or pay.”
It features a scorecard of lawmakers including the 29 senators who have thus far indicated they will vote for a CRA. “51 to win. 22 to go,” it reads.
Supporters can sign onto the pledge that states: “Dear Congress: I just gave my number to Fight for the Future, who will text me your voting record in the run-up to the next election. Unless you vote for a CRA to overturn the FCC net neutrality vote, I will not vote for you.”
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