Senate telecom bill still short of votes: Stevens

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said on Thursday he was still unable to muster enough votes for his telecommunications bill, which could die if Republicans lose power in the November elections.

The bill would make it easier for telephone companies like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications to get licenses to offer television service to compete with cable companies. It also would address a myriad of other issues but consumer groups oppose it because it does not guarantee "Net neutrality."

"I still think we're a few votes short," Stevens, an Alaska Republican, told reporters after addressing the Progress & Freedom Foundation think tank.

Senate Republican leaders have told Stevens he must have 60 votes in hand before they will bring the measure to the floor for debate. That would enable leaders to cut off debate and avoid the bill being talked to death, known as filibustering.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060922/pl_nm/telecoms_congress_dc

[Hawkeye-X]

1. K&R Hope he will never have the votes.

And the Repukes will lose it all.

Hawkeye-X

[sendero]

2. Ted Stevens is kind of like Bush..

... if he's for something, that's all I need to know. I'm against it.

[VegasWolf]

3. Stupider than shit on dirt? nt

[Ignacio Upton]

4. Fuck off Senator Tubes!

n/t.

[mhatrw]

5. Thank God.

Everybody, please keep the pressure on your Senators and Reps about this!

[KaptBunnyPants]

6. Only in a Party as corrupt as the Republicans,

would a technologically illiterate boob like Stevens be put in charge of regulating our communication systems.