THE RAW DEAL: John Kerry's Troubling High Tech Record

George W. Bush ^ | June 24, 2004

[RWR8189]

"John Kerry voted to tax internet access and voted against important high tech initiatives like the research and development tax credit as well as lower capital gains taxes. His record of voting against the interests of high tech companies fits the doom and gloom pessimism he brought with him to California."

- Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

John Kerry: Wrong For High Tech

Kerry Voted To Allow States To Continue Taxing Internet Access After the Internet Tax Moratorium Took Effect. He also voted against making the internet tax moratorium permanent.

Kerry Voted At Least Twice Against Amendments Making The R&D Tax Credit Permanent. Kerry also voted against an amendment to extend the R&D credit for one year.

Kerry Voted At Least 15 Times Against Reduced Capital Gains Taxes. Kerry voted against lowering the capital gains rate for low income earners to 7.5 percent. A Dukakis/Kerry plan increased capital gains tax from 4.3 percent to 5.375 percent. ("What It Will Mean To You," The Boston Globe, 7/2/83)

Kerry Has Been Inactive On High Tech Issues Despite Serving On the Commerce Committee. "A high-stakes effort by the Senate Commerce Committee to reshape U.S. technology policy over the last decade has included few contributions from its best-known member. … [Kerry] has seldom taken a direct role in shaping the major legislative decisions on technology during the 1990s, according to former Federal Communications Commission officials, telecommunications executives and congressional staffers." (Ralph Vartabedian and Lisa Getter, "In Senate, Kerry Maintained a Low Profile on High-Tech," Los Angeles Times, 3/27/04)

President Bush's Support For Innovation And High Tech

President Bush Has Made It A Goal To Provide Every American With Access To Affordable Broadband By 2007. The President has a specific plan to accelerate broadband deployment:

1. Do Not Tax Broadband Access. The federal ban on Internet Access Taxes has expired – and some states have started taxing broadband access. The President supports banning Internet Access taxes and applying that band to all forms of broadband access. The Congress needs to pass the Internet Access Tax ban.
2. Reduce Burdensome Regulations That Discourage Broadband Investment. Broadband access should not be governed by regulations established decades ago for the telephone. By applying 21st century policy to 21st century technology, we will encourage new investment that will bring broadband to more homes in more areas of America.
3. Provide Consumers With More Options For Affordable Broadband Access. In order to provide consumers with more options to connect to broadband, we need to promote two promising technologies – broadband through power lines and wireless access. The President is calling on Congress to pass the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act to free up more spectrum for wireless broadband.

Broadband Adoption Has Grown 300 Percent From December 2000 To December 2003 – From Seven Million To 28 Million Lines. ("High-Speed Connections to the Internet Increased 20% During the Second Half of 2003 for a Total of 28 Million Lines in Service," FCC Press Release, 6/8/04)

Over 93 Percent Of Zip Codes Have Broadband Access. (FCC, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, High Speed Services for Internet Access, Status as of June 30, 2003, 12/03)

Ninety-Four Percent Of Public Schools Have Broadband Access To The Internet. ("Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 2002," NCES, 8/29/03)

Consumers Are Adopting Broadband Faster Than Other Technologies Such As Color Televisions, Wireless Phones, VCRs And Personal Computers. ("Promoting Innovation and Economic Security Through Broadband Technology," White House Fact Sheet, 3/03)

President Bush's Support For Research And Development

Since 2001, President Bush Has Increased Funding For Federal Research And Development By 44 Percent To A Record $132 billion, Doubled NIH's Budget, Increased National Science Foundation (NSF) Funding By 30 Percet, And Increased Nanotechnology Research And Development By 83 Percent. ("Bush Administration Science and Technology Accomplishments," OSTP, 4/04)

The President Has Outlined A Plan To Provide Most Americans With Electronic Medical Records Within Ten Years. ("A New Generation of American Innovation," White House Fact Sheet, 4/26/04)

The President Has Proposed A Total Of $1.2 Billion Over Five Years To Develop Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cell Technology For Cars And Trucks. ("A New Generation of American Innovation," White House Fact Sheet, 4/26/04)

[Southack]

Notice how we are just gradually turning up the heat on Senator Kerry.

Man, it's going to be HOT by November!

[JerseyHighlander]

If Bush doesn't publically renounce Orin Hatch's RIAA written "Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004", and make sure it doesn't pass, is scuttled, buried, and never again allowed out of the crypt, he will by his omission of action, KILL the broadband industry in this country. And never gain support from the vast majority of high-tech entrepreneurs in this country.