Denny Hastert on Technology Former Republican Representative (IL-14, 1987-2007)

Voted YES on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure.

Veto message from President Bush:

This bill lacks fiscal discipline. I fully support funding for water resources projects that will yield high economic and environmental returns. Each year my budget has proposed reasonable and responsible funding, including $4.9 billion for 2008, to support the Army Corps of Engineers' main missions. However, this authorization bill costs over $23 billion. This is not fiscally responsible, particularly when local communities have been waiting for funding for projects already in the pipeline. The bill's excessive authorization for over 900 projects and programs exacerbates the massive backlog of ongoing Corps construction projects, which will require an additional $38 billion in future appropriations to complete. This bill does not set priorities. I urge the Congress to send me a fiscally responsible bill that sets priorities.

Promote internet via Congressional Internet Caucus.

Founded in the spring of 1996, the Congressional Internet Caucus is a bipartisan group of over 150 members of the House and Senate working to educate their colleagues about the promise and potential of the Internet. The Caucus also encourages Members to utilize the Internet in communications with constituents and supports efforts to put more government documents online. The Internet Caucus Advisory Committee and the Internet Education Foundation host regular events and forums for policymakers, the press, and the public to discuss important Internet-related policy issues.

Membership in the Congressional Internet Caucus is open to any Member of Congress who pledges support for the following goals:
• Promoting growth and advancement of the Internet
• Providing a bicameral, bipartisan forum for Internet concerns to be raised
• Promoting the education of Members of Congress and their staffs about the Internet
• Promoting commerce and free flow of information on the Internet
• Advancing the United States' world leadership in the digital world
• Maximizing the openness of and participation in government by the people.

Promote e-Contract with High Tech America.

Private sector innovation, creativity, and competition led this global transformation-not government direction. Republicans have led the effort, using legislative and oversight functions, to remove barriers to future innovation and growth. Because we believe that freedom is the answer, not government intervention, we pledge to continue our leadership on High-Tech priorities by:
• Laying the Foundation for a Prosperous High Tech Future
  • Modernizing and reforming our education system to restore accountability, flexibility and innovation to our schools.
  • Ensuring the availability of a well-educated, highly skilled work force.
  • Providing the 21st century energy infrastructure necessary to fuel a 21st century high-tech economy.
  • Promoting research and development.
• Reducing Excessive Taxation, Regulation and Litigation
  • Continuing to promote tax cut policies that encourage capital formation, investment, and economic growth.
  • Preventing frivolous lawsuits that stifle economic growth.
  • Protecting the Internet from predatory, or multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.
• Enhancing America's Global Leadership
• Promoting Free Trade, including Trade Promotion Authority.
  • Expanding Digital Opportunities to more Americans.
  • Modernizing trade policies to reflect America's technology leadership.
  • Protecting intellectual property rights.

Promote e-commece and e-government.

Technology has permanently changed the way we live, the way we work, and the way we learn. It presents Americans with more freedom, prosperity, and flexibility. High-Tech America continues to be the engine of our economic prosperity, increasing productivity throughout our economy, and the world's economy. Because we believe that freedom is the answer, not government intervention, we pledge to continue our leadership on High-Tech priorities by:
• Promoting the Progress of e-Commerce
  • Removing barriers to telecommuting and expanding workplace flexibility.
  • Modernizing our spectrum allocation process.
  • Allowing high-speed Internet access to flourish.
• Using e-Government to Make Government More Efficient and Accountable
  • Continuing to expand availability of information and services online.
  • Leading by example in promoting better online security and protecting the privacy of government collections of personal information.