Ever since Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) became chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee in January, he's been fighting to get unilateral subpoena powers.
Politico reported Wednesday that he may soon get those expanded powers on a party-line vote this evening. Ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) reminded her colleagues that this would be a significant expansion of the chair's role, as subpoenas have previously been issued with bipartisan cooperation. Politico reporter Ben Leonard noted that this would be a "major break in precedent" in how the committee has previously handled the process of compelling testimony and obtaining documents.
"Going back at least 20 years, the chair and ranking member of this committee typically work together and reach consensus on subpoenas being issued because there is no question the matter being investigated is improper or the party being investigated was not being cooperative," Cantwell said.
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Cruz's gambit stems from an ongoing feud with the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), in which immigrants were allowed to sleep at Boston's Logan Airport up until last July due to a shortage of beds at designated immigrant shelters. Democratic Governor Maura Healey officially banned the airport from sheltering immigrants, though the Boston Globe has reported that immigrant families have still been spotted sleeping at the airport since Healey's ban.
The Texas Republican wants to subpoena Massport to get to the bottom of whether it's still allowing the practice. However, Massport spokesperson Jennifer Mehigan said "no families have stayed at the airport" since last July and that it is "working closely with the [Commerce] Committee and appreciate their patience as we gather the documents to voluntarily comply fully with their request." Cruz has pushed back and argues that Massport is violating federal grant rules.
“In recent years, the Senate has allowed our oversight muscles to atrophy. Oversight rarely occurs in our standing committees, and I believe our country is worse off for it. … It’s a front where I will continue to lead as chairman,” Cruz said. “Massport apparently believes that the Senate has no jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
While Republicans have a majority on the Commerce committee, it's still an open question whether Cruz will get his wish of expanded subpoena powers. Some in Trumpworld reportedly have reservations about his promise to subpoena Big Tech executives who became some of President Donald Trump's biggest donors in the 2024 cycle.
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Click here to read Politico's report in full.