BIG BUCKS FROM BIG TECH: Executives at the nation's largest tech companies made huge donations to key lawmakers in recent months as Congress debated legislation that would reshape the industry. The influx of donations came in as the tech industry urged lawmakers to abandon antitrust legislation that could make it easier for regulators to break up tech giants. Tech companies also lobbied Senate leaders to prioritize a bill to provide $52 billion toward U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Tech executives cut the largest checks to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), according to recent Federal Election Commission filings covering fundraising from April through June. Read more here. NEW CAUCUS ON THE BLOCK: Rep. Ken Buck (Colo.), the top Republican on the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, is forming a new "Freedom From Big Tech" caucus along with a handful of other GOP lawmakers who supported antitrust bills advanced by the committee last month, the congressman announced Friday. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) will serve as co-chairman of the caucus. Other founding members of the caucus include Reps. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Burgess Owens (R-Utah) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). The caucus will aim to unite Republicans in Congress to "rein in Big Tech" through "legislation, education, and awareness." Read more here. BACKING THE BIPARTISAN PLAN: Tech industry groups on Friday urged lawmakers to support the infrastructure framework negotiated by President Biden and a bipartisan group of senators. Ten groups representing U.S. tech firms, including the Chamber of Progress and the Internet Association, sent a letter to members of Congress showing their support for the $1.2 trillion deal. "Better infrastructure will help connect more Americans to digital opportunity, improve the resilience of our technology networks, move us toward a cleaner energy future, and make it easier for U.S. technology firms to create more American jobs," the groups wrote. Read more here. |
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