The Biden administration is planning an "ambitious" post-midterm push on a pair of antitrust tech bills stalled in Congress as Republicans gain ground with less than a week to go in the 2022 midterm elections, reports Bloomberg.
The report comes after the Cook Political Report this week altered its rating in Arizona, where Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly is fighting to hold his Senate seat against Trump-backed Blake Masters, from "lean Democrat" to "tossup" and in Wisconsin, where incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is going up against Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes to retain his seat, from a tossup to "lean Republican."
Those battleground races could determine which party will control the upper chamber.
"We are very committed to moving ambitious legislation in this area," Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, told Bloomberg in a phone interview in reference to the American Innovation Act and Choice Online Act and Open App Markets Act.
The bills would prevent tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Google, Twitter and others from using their platforms to thwart competitors.
Republicans say they will not support the bill should they take control of Congress.
"There is bipartisan support for antitrust bills and no reason why Congress can't act before the end of the year," said White House spokesperson Emilie Simons. "We are planning on stepping up engagement during the lame duck on the president's agenda across the board, antitrust included."
Versions of both bills have made it through the committees but have been stalled after tech companies poured tens of millions of dollars into lobbying against them and other priorities took precedence.
Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., said Biden strongly supports the bills.
"President Biden is the most pro-competition president we've had in a generation, and he and his administration have strongly supported this bipartisan legislation," said Cicilline, the lead Democratic co-sponsor of the bills in the House. "We will be working around the clock with the White House to get it across the finish line during the final weeks of the Congress."
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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