Why do conservatives hate the proposed moratorium on states’ rights to legislate AI that embattled industry lobbyists are desperately scrambling to keep in the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill? Let us count the ways:
Infringes states’ rights:
- “I personally don’t think we should be setting a federal standard right now and prohibiting the states from doing what we should be doing in a federated republic. Let the states experiment.” – Sen. Ron Johnson, the Hill
Hurts families:
- “The achievement of human flourishing in the age of A.I. (as in every age) depends on deliberate policy choices. Technological innovation, no matter how beneficial to economic prosperity or national security, should never come at the expense of the family or the human person.” – Michael Toscano & Jared Hayden, Institute for Family Studies, Newsweek op-ed
Religious leaders hate it:
- “We do not fear AI, but neither do we worship it … the call before Congress is neither to halt progress nor unleash chaos. It is to ensure that the digital age reflects our deepest values, not just our fastest capabilities.” – Faith leaders incl. National Association of Evangelicals President Rev. Dr. Walter Kim, Logos & Sofia working group letter to Congress
The public hates it:
- “Opposition to the moratorium is bipartisan. More Trump voters and more Harris voters oppose the moratorium than support it. Trump voters oppose the AI moratorium by more than 20 percentage points.” – Institute for Family Studies, Poll: Americans Oppose the A.I. Regulation Moratorium by a 3-to-1 Margin
Top conservative intellectuals hate it:
- “Hardline conservative critics, including the influential think tank Heritage Foundation, say the proposal would infringe on states’ ability to protect their citizens against risks posed by AI. Officials in all 50 states, including some Republican attorneys general, and dozens of advocacy groups have also criticized the GOP effort.” – Bloomberg, AI Titans Flex Clout to Leverage Tax Bill to Override State Laws
House Freedom Caucus backlash is brewing:
- “When they send it back, if they still have it in there, that is a poison pill. I won’t be able to vote for it.” – Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, One America News interview w/Matt Gaetz
Sets back MAGA’s anti-censorship campaign:
- “It’s going to destroy American news media, particularly conservative news media that relies on old-fashioned advertising to pay its bills, clicks, and advertising … What this 10-year moratorium means is that states like Florida and Texas that have passed laws that make it harder to censor conservatives and others with whom they disagree, these AI companies can just ignore those laws.” – Mike Davis, Steve Bannon War Room interview
Threatens the economy:
- “First, a moratorium would expose Americans to AI-powered scams … Second, the moratorium would make it more difficult for states to adapt to innovations in financial services while also depriving federal policymakers of valuable insights derived from state-level efforts to prevent the misuse of AI-powered technologies.” – North American Securities Administrators Association, Letter to Congress
Base fundamentally distrusts Big Tech:
- “In response to Big Tech CEOs taking actions to appear more MAGA and in support of President Trump’s agenda … a majority of Trump voters see right through them and believe it is an act. 54% of Trump voters and 70% of voters overall believe Big Tech is just trying to appeal to Trump.” – Tech Oversight Project/PPP, National Poll: Americans Deeply Critical of Big Tech CEOs, Support Big Tech Tax
Can’t rely on Congress to act:
- “Passing a 10-year moratorium on regulating AI, without any plan on the federal level to rein in its harms, is far beyond unwise. It’s an invitation to destroy any sense of reality left in our society and bring about economic doom.” – Jennifer Van Laar, RedState