House aides: Boehner won’t back Democrats’ net-neutrality legislation

House GOP Leader John Boehner (Ohio) will not support a net-neutrality bill developed by House Energy and Commerce Democrats, three House aides said Wednesday.

The three aides said they were informed of Boehner’s decision by a GOP staffer, but they had no official statement confirming it. Boehner’s office did not confirm.

“Rep. Boehner has long opposed greater government regulation of the Internet,” Boehner’s spokesman Michael Steel said.

GOP support for the legislation seemed plausible after some phone and cable companies began to push the bill. Industry groups view the measure — crafted by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) — as preferable to the stricter regulations under development at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

If a “no” from the leadership means committee Republicans won’t endorse, the bill might not see the light of day. House aides said they think Waxman is less likely to introduce the bill if it is not bipartisan.