New Senate Bill Drops Spectrum Auction Language

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) crafted a new version of his debt-ceiling bill that no longer includes spectrum auction language.

According to a copy of a July 29 letter from the Congressional Budget Office outlining the new bill's impact on the deficit, among the differences in July 29's version of the bill was that it "removes provisions governing spectrum auctions and related spending." Sen Reid said the provision had to be removed because it raised revenue and so would have had to originate in the House (Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution requires all bills raising revenue to originate in the House). But he also suggested it was to make it more amenable to Republicans. Sen Reid added that the auctions should happen and will happen.