Business briefs for June 5, 2003

Thursday, June 5, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

Senators move to overturn rule

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan majority of an important Senate committee indicated on Wednesday that it would vote to overturn some of the media ownership rules adopted two days ago, reversing one of the most significant deregulatory steps undertaken during the Bush administration.

The battle over the new rules, which were narrowly adopted by the Federal Communications Commission along partisan lines, spilled into Congress where the Republican commissioners who voted for them faced hostile questions from both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee.

Its chairman, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the committee would begin a markup of new legislation this month even though he did not directly take issue with the changes adopted by the commission. McCain said he would introduce legislation giving the FCC the authority to impose tighter regulations if the agency found such regulations were in the public interest.

House vote delayed

WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders delayed a vote that had been expected today on a bill aimed at shutting down Internet gambling in the United States.

Three versions of a bill that aims to outlaw the payment methods used to make Internet gambling wagers have been approved by the Judiciary and Financial Services Committees. Now bill authors and GOP leaders are trying to decide which version of the legislation will be brought to the full House for floor debate and a vote, congressional sources said. Disagreements over amendment procedures also have stalled the bill.

Still, compromises may be worked out soon and a vote could be called for by next week, said Amy Spanbauer, spokeswoman for Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.