Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), who is championing a series of antitrust laws to curb the power of big tech, said he plans to retire from Congress on June 1 to take a position at a nonprofit accept.
Cicilline becomes president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.
“The opportunity to lead the Rhode Island Foundation was unexpected, but it is an extraordinary opportunity to make an even more direct and meaningful impact on the lives of our state’s residents,” Cicilline said in a statement.
At the last Congress, Cicilline, as chairman of the House Judiciary Authority’s antitrust subcommittee, together with her top Republican, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), advocated for a series of bills aimed at the power of Google, Facebook and other large technology companies. The bills, including one that could have killed major platforms, have been brought before the House Judiciary Committee. But the more consistent bills never made it to the floor, despite opposition from the tech industry lobby.
The prospects for such legislation moving forward in this Congress have also worsened with the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Buck was replaced as chairman of the antitrust subcommittee by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who is seen as much more libertarian when it comes to curbing markets through government regulation.
Cicilline also conducted a 16-month study of competition in the digital market. He was also the manager of Donald Trump’s second impeachment by the House of Representatives. Former Providence Mayor Cicilline also earned membership in the Screen Actors Guild for playing herself in the television series providence.
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
