Today, Public Knowledge joins a coalition of consumer, labor, small business, and environmental groups in a letter opposing the nomination of Representative Mick Mulvaney as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The letter was delivered to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs as well as the Senate Committee on Budget.
The following statement can be attributed to Phillip Berenbroick, Senior Policy Counsel:
“Congressman Mulvaney’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget is at odds with President Trump’s promises to take on entrenched, powerful special interests and end business as usual in Washington.
“The Communications Act directs the Federal Communications Commission to serve the public interest. Congressman Mulvaney’s record of ideological-driven devotion, without regard to facts of consequences, to deregulation and promoting corporate interests stands starkly at odds with the FCC’s broad mandate to promote the public interest by enhancing competition, universal service, and diversity in media and information.
“OMB plays a critical role in the regulatory process, including reviewing FCC rules that advance the public interest, protect consumers, and promote competition and innovation in the telecommunications, media, and technology sectors. However, Congressman Mulvaney has fought to undermine the core functions and legitimacy of a Federal role in regulating anti-consumer and anti-competitive corporate activity. Additionally, he has advocated for a rigid cost-benefit analysis in all agency rulemakings that is distinctly at odds with the aims of the Communications Act.
“At OMB, Congressman Mulvaney is likely to lead the assault on consumer protections and rules that curb anti-competitive conduct, which would be disastrous for communications policy. He should not be confirmed.”
You may view the letter here.
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.