Conservatives, including Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) have frequently criticized the censorship of conservatives on social media.

That is why conservative Senators on the Judiciary Committee were confused when Ted Cruz casted a crucial vote to move the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) forward on Thursday.

The bill will allow journalism/media companies to form cartels to negotiate with tech companies over how much they are paid for their content on social media websites and search engines.

Cruz introduced an amendment to the bill that would continue the prohibition on news companies forming cartels to negotiate with tech companies on what content is moderated or censored.

Still, conservative members of the Committee, such as Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Senator Mike Lee (R-Ut.), and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tn.) voiced their opposition to the bill and voted against it moving out of the Judiciary Committee.

Cruz worked on the bill with liberal Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Mn.).

Breitbart Reports–

“Let me commend the authors of this bill for the hard work they put in on an important issue,” said Sen. Cruz, who went on to praise the legislation as a blow against the corporate power of Big Tech, even though it will deepen the corrupt relationship between Silicon Valley and the media.

The core of the bill, as is now widely known, is to allow media companies to form a legal cartel in the U.S., for the sole purpose of pressuring tech companies for special favors.

At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill today, Cruz said he worked closely with the lead Democrat sponsor of the bill, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to get his amendment through. Thanks to Cruz’s efforts, the media bailout bill was voted out of committee and may now face a floor vote.

“I’ve had extensive conversations with Senator Klobuchar, and sat down and heard her concerns, and we worked together on this amendment,” said Cruz.