Democratic Sens to push bill repealing robocall provision of budget deal

A few Democratic Senators plan to push a bill during the week of Nov 2 to repeal a portion of the budget agreement that would allow the government to make robocalls to cellphones in order to collect outstanding debt. Sen Ed Markey (D-MA), who authored the telephone consumer protection laws in the 1990s, plans to introduce the legislation Nov 2. A number of Democratic lawmakers called out the provision after expressing surprise that it made its way into the bipartisan budget framework. "This deal comes with a price: More unwanted calls and texts to Americans," Sen Markey said on the floor on Oct 29, after applauding the broader deal.

The small provision was not enough to prevent Democratic critics from voting to advance the bill. Sen Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who will also co-sponsor the bill, has called the provision a "stupid idea" but said it doesn't warrant "jettisoning" the broader compromise. Similarly, Sen Markey's touted the broader agreement to extend the debt limit and relieve budget caps. Sen Markey's office said "a number" of other Sens are also expected to sign onto the the bill. The robocall provision would exempt the government and those collecting debt on its behalf from some telephone consumer protection rules, if the calls are made "solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States." Nearly all automated or prerecorded calls to cellphones are currently barred.