Net Neutrality, Maxine Waters, and Public Employee Unions

1. TECHNOLOGY

The media is attacking Google and Verizon’s legislative framework for an open internet.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President Wayne Crews on why Google is right to step back from pushing net neutrality:

“Rather than net neutrality, CEOs and Congress need to insist upon Agency Neutrality.  We need hands off, not public policy that picks arbitrarily between the content and infrastructure sectors, creating uncertainty in the communications marketplace seemingly as an end in itself.”

2. POLITICS

A House Ethics panel has announced charges against Rep. Maxine Waters.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Counsel Hans Bader on why the ethics charges are ironic, given Rep. Waters’ reputation as a warrior for class equality:

“Having socialist leanings apparently doesn’t stop a politician from cozying up to banks like the terribly mismanaged OneUnited Bank–or supporting corporate welfare. In practice, socialism has nothing to do with equality, as its supporters claim; it’s just a way to justify taking and spending other people’s money.”

3. LABOR

The House will vote today on a bill which includes a bailout for state public unions, including teacher unions.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Labor Policy Counsel Vincent Vernuccio on why the federal government is essentially rewarding public employee unions for supporting the Democratic Party.

“The Center for Responsive Politics lists the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees as second on its Top All-Time Donors list. The National Education Association (NEA) is eighth and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) comes in at 13th. Combined the NEA and AFT have spent over $58 million on politics since 1989, with over 90 percent of that money going to Democrats.”