House Rep Bobby Rush Working On Alt Web Privacy Bill

Author:

Kate Kaye

Source:

Federal online privacy legislation is expected to be introduced, possibly as soon as today. But this isn't a formal introduction of the draft proposed by Rep. Rick Boucher that's been floating around Washington, D.C. for the past two months. Rather, Rep. Bobby Rush - who, like Boucher, is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce - plans to submit his own bill.
 
The expected bill adds another offshoot trail to the winding path of comprehensive Federal online privacy legislation development. And it could be seen as the beginning of a turf battle.
 
Capitol Hill insiders say Rush - an Illinois Democrat - will introduce his bill tonight or Tuesday morning. They expect the legislation to touch on the same issues covered in the Boucher draft. The Boucher proposal was distributed among interested parties in early May for comment, and is not formal legislation.
 
Rush's bill could be construed as a shot across the bow to Boucher, who is head of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. Some believe Boucher overstepped his boundaries by submitting his proposal without input from Rush, who is chairman of another House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee (on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection). Insiders say Rush (pictured above) may think his subcommittee, because it deals with consumer protection, is the more appropriate point of origin for an online privacy bill than Boucher. Rush also sits on the Boucher-led Internet Subcommittee....