Sen Sinema the Net Neutrality Skeptic?

As Democratic leaders unveiled legislation to revive Obama-era net neutrality rules, one name was conspicuously absent: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). The lawmaker was the sole member of the Senate Democratic caucus not to co-sponsor the measure. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) had circulated his Save the Internet Act since January seeking a widespread show of Democratic backing. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) “signed on this morning,” Sen Markey told reporters, leaving Sen. Sinema as the lone holdout. So where does Sinema stand? In 2018 as a House member, she was one of a handful of Democrats not to sign onto a discharge petition intended to force a vote on the net neutrality Congressional Review Act resolution (which ultimately fell dozens short, dooming the effort). In 2014, Sen Sinema tweeted favorably about net neutrality in broad terms. But by 2016, she was one of only five Democrats to vote with Republicans on legislation that would have barred the Federal Communications Commission from regulating broadband rates (which the GOP feared would result from the 2015 Open Internet order). Following the rules’ 2017 repeal, she did call for congressional action and tweeted, “Consumers should get to keep access to the legal content they want at a fair market-based price without interference.” Sen. Sinema declined to comment March 6 when asked, as did her spokespeople.