How Democrats Can Win by Losing on Net Neutrality

It sure looked final: On Dec. 14, the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality rules that barred internet service providers from blocking or slowing web traffic. People who bristle at government regulations cheered the end of these rules, enacted under Democratic President Barack Obama, saying they imposed too much government oversight of broadband traffic. But Democrats aren’t ready to surrender. They’re planning to use a tool most recently embraced by Republicans to force a vote in Congress on the issue. The odds may be long, but many Democrats think that there’s a possible win in losing.

Through a vehicle known as a Congressional Review Act, or CRA. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said on Jan. 9 that he would force a vote in the chamber using the CRA, which would essentially be an official form of disapproval of the FCC’s action. All 47 Democratic senators and two independent senators who normally vote with them have since said they’ll back this effort.