Politicos postpone hearing on Microsoft's Yahoo bid

The first--and so far, only--Capitol Hill committee to place a hearing about Microsoft's $44.6 billion Yahoo bid on its calendar is now postponing that event.

Just hours after word of the proposed deal emerged last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee's antitrust task force said it planned to hold a February 8 hearing to examine "The State of Competition on the Internet," including Microsoft's Yahoo plans.

But since then, "scheduling conflicts" have intervened, forcing the panel to cancel the hearing for the moment, a Democratic aide told CNET News.com on Thursday. A new date has not yet been set.

Meanwhile, a rival House committee recently announced plans to keep an eye on any merger activity, and a Senate antitrust panel said it would be prepared to hold a hearing if Yahoo accepts Redmond's offer.