Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is meeting with conservative lawmakers in both chambers to build support for a showdown with the White House over funding the government and power over the internet.
Cruz wants a stopgap measure to fund the government to include a rider that would block the administration from relinquishing the special oversight role the United States has had over the internet since its inception.
“To stop the giveaway of our Internet freedom, Congress should act by continuing and by strengthening the appropriations rider in the continuing resolution that we will be considering this month,” Cruz said in a floor speech Thursday, referring to the stopgap.
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It’s not clear that a rider would stop the administration. Cruz believes strongly drafted language would be effective, but Democrats say the issue falls squarely within Obama’s authority.
Cruz believes the administration must obtain express permission from Congress before going forward, while the administration sees it differently, adding another chapter to the long debate between Obama and GOP congressional leaders over executive power.
“Congress has for several years now prohibited the administration from using any funds to ‘relinquish control of the internet’ and yet in typical lawless fashion, the Department of Commerce has been racing to relinquish control by Sept. 30,” Cruz said on the Senate floor.
He will hold a hearing as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Oversight and Agency Action Subcommittee to review the issue.
Cruz has also been in contact with Rep. Sean Duffy, a third-term Republican from Wisconsin, who is leading the effort in the House.
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Somebody needs to stop this travesty. Why not @TedCruz? Of course it's Ted Cruz. #TCOT https://t.co/XwZVZRToC8
— JD Rucker (@JDRucker) September 12, 2016
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