House still searching for a privacy deal

House committee leaders are still unable to strike a final deal on key privacy issues and are instead opting to release a discussion draft as bipartisan talks continue. House Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairwoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) is spearheading those talks in the chamber. She will release a draft bill as early as next week that will not address hotly contested issues over whether a national standard should override state laws or enable consumers to sue companies over privacy violations. A spokesman for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said the bill is the result of bipartisan discussions. But unlike in the Senate, House leaders indicated they have no plans to put out dueling privacy proposals along party lines at this stage. “Right now we’re focused on trying to see if we can find common ground with Chairwoman Schakowsky” and House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), said Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the top Republican on the committee. Chairwoman Schakowsky has received no indication from panel Republicans that they will put out their own standalone proposal. “I think that’s because from the beginning we’ve really tried to keep them in the loop and to work with them,” she said. And will the two sides ever agree on a private right of action? Rep McMorris Rodgers is interested in hearing more about a possible compromise between the two parties on a narrow right to sue — something Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) has said he’s willing to entertain. But she added she has not been a part of any discussions on such a deal.