Illustrated by Ally Karl/Axios
Companies seeking to get involved in Big Tech’s actions convened at the White House on Thursday tried to gain momentum for antitrust legislation during a lame duck session in Congress.
Big picture: After being relatively close to passing a bill meant to thwart Big Tech’s anti-competitive practices over the summer, this will be the last tech anti-competition this Congress will make before Republicans take over the House in 2023. It is a push of the trust.
What they say: Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman spoke exclusively to Axios about the Senate’s American Innovation and Choice Online Act. “We are really encouraged by their comments. They are unwavering. Competition is important. [President Joe] Nothing has changed with Biden on that front. ”
- Stoppelman, White House Antitrust Counsel Tim Wu, White House Legislative Director Louisa Terrell, and other White House officials attended the meeting.
- A White House official confirmed to Axios that the meeting was “productive and thoughtful.”
- “To prepare for the lame duck, I met with YCombinator’s Gary Tan, Andi’s Angela Hooper, Beeper’s Eric Migicovsky, Jeremy Stoppelman and Yelp’s Luther Lowe in the Diplomatic Office today,” Wu said. murmured“The White House is committed to moving the Technology Antitrust Act.”
Yes, but: It’s not clear if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer changed the bill. After promising a floor vote in his May of this year, he changed his tone, expressing uncertainty about whether there were enough “yes” votes to pass.
- A representative for Schumer’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. is rushing for inclusion in the mandatory bill of
- Supporters point out that Schumer’s previous excuse for not moving the bill, which could hurt vulnerable Democrats heading for re-election, is no longer a factor.
Opposite side: Technical sources say nothing has changed for Axios and the bill has no chance.
- “Senior staffers of the Senate on both sides of the aisle have told me that the singles claiming this is a live issue of the lame duck session are essentially checking chicken eggs.” Invoice is invalid.”
conspiracy: Co-sponsor Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) remains committed to the bill and has told people the GOP still has 20 votes, a former Republican Senate official told Axios. .
Conclusion: Whether or not there is tech antitrust momentum in this Congress depends on who you ask.
- “The premise that this is over is not something we’ve heard from the White House,” Stoppelman said.
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