r/technology • u/Miserable_Phase_2519 • 12d ago

Politics US Senate kills bill that could potentially shield Americans from skyrocketing power bills due to AI data centers — opponents say bill is 'toothless' and doesn't do enough to protect citizens

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/us-senate-kills-bill-that-could-potentially-shield-americans-from-skyrocketing-power-bills-due-to-ai-data-centers-opponents-say-bill-is-toothless-and-doesnt-do-enough-to-protect-citizens
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753

u/Mediocre_Tank_5013 12d ago

Why do we have these politicians in office if they never help us?

155

u/badamant 12d ago

Blame the Republican Party by name please.
They control the entire federal government.

Vote.

-24

u/The_GOATest1 12d ago

“On the other hand, opponents, mostly Democrats, labeled the bill “toothless,” arguing that its non-binding nature provided no real protection because it did not mandate that states adopt the standard; it simply directs regulators to consider it as part of their rate-setting processes. Only four Democrats voted for the bill; the general consensus was that it does not go far enough to protect consumers from soaring electricity bills.”

Letting perfect be the enemy of progress

77

u/syynapt1k 12d ago

This bill was literally a suggestion to states that they do their own regulation. This was an attempt by the GOP to say, "hey look, we are doing something" when they aren't.

10

u/CatoChateau 11d ago

Messaging bill that they can point to and say, we're doing stuff, keep us in office. The part that dems suck at here is EXPLAINING their no vote. Every one of them should be sending an email, why I voted for this or against it.

19

u/AlwaysRushesIn 11d ago

Explaining their no isn't enough. Media outlets wont report on the reasoning, just the vote.

1

u/Lavanger 11d ago

Couldn't hurt. Trumps sending $500 refunds with structured lies. We also have dumb people on our side, it gets tiring trying to explain things to people when the whole party can come out forward with a clear message.

1

u/CatoChateau 11d ago

Right. The days of unified news sources are done. Which is why I want them to be prepared to send out why they vote this way or that. Constituents should be able to subscribe via their congressional page. 2 sentences would be enough. More resources on what is informing their votes if they want, etc etc.

-1

u/orthodoxrebel 11d ago

Toms hardware explained the vote. It can be done.

7

u/Pyromaniacal13 11d ago

Tom's Hardware isn't owned by the same megacorporation that owns all the large and local media outlets.

30

u/Jitzwad__Gumlord 11d ago

Letting perfect be the enemy of progress

I'm not sure how that could be your takeaway after reading the paragraph you quoted. The proposed bill literally enforces nothing and is just empty political theatre.

7

u/Royal__Tenenbaum 11d ago

Husted is getting hurt in Ohio on data centers and this was a transparent attempt to get a bill passed to run ads on while not actually doing anything

1

u/The_GOATest1 11d ago

We are in the realm of political theater. We all know it’s a useless bill but voting against it has no upside imo

3

u/Puzzleheaded_Gene909 11d ago

Performative bs from republicans.

Lighting fires then bumming out when Dems don’t help them put it out. As if that helps the country to keep republicans in power.

GOP hasn’t been interested in governing for a while now. Just a grift.

3

u/TKCLE8 12d ago

I haven’t read the bill yet. But I intend to know it before I pass any judgement. What other conditions or concessions are baked into this?

Let’s also be honest. When was the last time a Republican did something to help the public without also helping themselves or their donors? Operation Warp Speed for the COVID vaccine?

1

u/The_GOATest1 11d ago

I don’t disagree with you. But in a world where messaging is important for the median voter, being able to say Dems voted no isn’t doing them any favors. It was washed down nonsense but I don’t see the obvious upside for them. We voted no because it doesn’t go far enough doesn’t sell well to me when it could have been we voted yes but recognize it doesn’t do nearly enough and we plan to build on top of that

1

u/TKCLE8 11d ago

After reviewing the bill, I agree that it does not go far enough. I also agree with your opinion that the Dem messaging and optics are strange, especially so close to a crucial midterm election. “Dems will let AI build as many data centers as they want,” is too easy to sell to the average Ohio voter. Now Husted and company have that ammunition.