It comes as no surprise that the Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to repeal the 2015 rule requiring internet service providers to give equal and open access to all internet content for all users.

Federal regulators voted Thursday to allow Internet providers to speed up service for websites they favor — and block or slow down others — in a decision repealing landmark Obama-era regulations overseeing broadband companies such as AT&T and Verizon.

The move by the Federal Communications Commission to deregulate the telecom and cable industries was a prominent example of the policy shifts taking place in Washington under President Trump and a major setback for consumer groups, tech companies and Democrats who had lobbied heavily against the decision.

The 3-2 vote, which was along party lines, enabled the FCC’s Republican chairman, Ajit Pai, to follow through on his promise to repeal the government’s 2015 net neutrality rules, which required Internet providers to treat all websites, large and small, equally. The agency also rejected some of its own authority over the broadband industry in a bid to stymie future FCC officials who might seek to reverse the Republican-led ruling.

Nor is it surprising that Congressman Goodlatte tweeted his support for the FCC’s decision to end net neutrality.

Or that Goodlatte has received more than $236,000 in campaign contributions from the ISP giants AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.

In a previous post at Goodlatte Watch I debunked Goodlatte’s claims that ending net neutrality would benefit consumers and that antitrust enforcement alone would provide sufficient protection.

Did anyone dare to hope that by announcing his retirement from Congress at the end of next year, Goodlatte would feel free to do what is right for his constituents rather than his big-money donors?

Sorry.