Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., of the Senate Commerce Committee said he's reviving the communications subcommittee. He appointed Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman. Kerry said he welcomes the chance to chair the subcommittee, disbanded when Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, became the Commerce Committee chairman last Congress. The subcommittee can't mark up legislation. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is the ranking member. Rockefeller said he would name other members later. nnRockefeller also announced new procedures for issuing subpoenas to reluctant witnesses. They allow the chairman to issue subpoenas without the ranking member's approval, by majority vote of the committee. "Tough oversight" is our job, Rockefeller said. "This power will allow the committee to act quickly and aggressively to protect consumers." But he said a subpoena "generally should be called upon as a tool of last resort."
展开▼
