Rep. Peterson flipped on net neutrality

For net-neutrality advocates, it was something of a surprise that Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) voted to defund net-neutrality during the marathon spending debate last week.

In 2006, Peterson voted in favor of net-neutrality rules when Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) introduced such an amendment, which failed on a 152-269 vote.

Peterson is the only Democrat to have voted for net neutrality in 2006 who also voted for the anti-net-neutrality amendment last week. Ten other Democrats joined in support of the anti-net-neutrality language.

Offered by House Communications subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), the amendment sailed through, but it might have tough odds in the Senate, where net neutrality has strong Democratic support.