Posted by Joel Mathis June 21, 2006 at 6:41 a.m.

Brownback: Net neutrality requirement unneeded

Sam Brownback links[(Voice of America) Debate Simmering in U.S. over Internet Regulation:][1] Cohen said he feels legislation mandating net neutrality, as proposed by some lawmakers, is not necessary, because his company has no plans to take any actions that would threaten it. He added that he believes these regulations would also discourage his company from investing to develop new technology. ... This position was echoed by Senate Judiciary Committee member Senator Sam Brownback, who said, at this point, net neutrality regulation would only be addressing hypothetical problems. "I think, this is a legislation in search of a problem," said Senator Brownback. "Things have been phenomenally successful, in terms of expanding of opportunity on the Internet. And it continues to happen and I would hope we wouldn't go in with a regulatory arm on this."[(Real Clear Politics commentary) The GOP's Muzzle:][2] While Newt Gingrich has been railing against 2002's McCain-Feingold legislation in recent months, Allen's attack on the GOP's current effort to regulate so-called 527 groups -- independent organizations banned from coordinating with candidates or parties -- makes him the first top-tier '08 candidate to come out swinging against campaign-finance "reform." ... Allen's attack on speech regulation (and threat to aid a filibuster) comes in a letter to Frist dated June 9, and is signed by six of his Senate colleagues: Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Mike Enzi (R-Wy.), John Sununu (R-N.H.) and David Vitter (R-La.). It has received little attention from the press, but it's quite a stinging rebuke to the party's leadership.Dennis Moore links[(Insurance Journal) Brokers Support New Federal Bill to Reform Surplus Lines Insurance Regulation:][3] In a step that is being applauded by insurance brokers, Reps. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-FL, and Dennis Moore, D-KS, have introduced federal legislation requiring states to establish a uniform system of regulation for the surplus lines industry. The new bill is a slimmed-down version of the proposed State Modernization and Regulatory Transparency Act (SMART), which deals with regulation of all lines of insurance and faced a lengthy legislative process. Waite and Moore pulled out pieces of the SMART legislation that target non-admitted insurance and reinsurance, in an effort to speed the legislation's path through Congress. Miscellaneous links[(Cattle Network) US Senators Seek Retaliatory Tariffs On Japan Over Beef Ban:][4] Several U.S. senators are preparing to introduce new legislation that would punish Japan with import tariffs if the country does not repeal its ban On U.S. beef by Aug. 31. Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., are set to unveil the bill as preparations are being made for Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit this month to the White House. ... Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., is another lawmaker frustrated with Japan. "We're continuing to get stiffed by the Japanese on this," Brownback said, "and it's my firm belief that unless we put real pressure on them ... nothing real is going to happen."How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][5] [1]: http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-6-20/42999.html [2]: http://news.yahoo.com/s/realclearpolitics/20060620/cm_rcp/the_gops_muzzle [3]: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2006/06/20/69688.htm [4]: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=46358 [5]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed