Beto O`Rourke on Technology Democratic candidate for President; Texas Senator nominee

We don't allow lies in books; why do we allow Facebook?

$1.5 trillion for infrastructure from raised taxes

TWO CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: John Hickenlooper; Amy Klobuchar.

Virtually all other candidates $1.5 trillion attempt to respond to climate change, much of which appears focused on research. Beyond that the specifics get nebulous, other than a line saying he wants some of it to go to grants that "cut commutes, crashes and carbon pollution," including increased access to transit options. Read more about his plan here.

John Hickenlooper has said he wants a $1 trillion infrastructure investment with a focus on clean energy and rural broadband.

Invest in green research via national labs & universities

O'Rourke: We would invest in more research through our national labs, universities and incubators and in the scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs, the women and men who will do the work day in and day out. Not only must we emit less greenhouse gases, we must plant things that absorb greenhouse gases, and give our farmers a better harvest, and invest in the technologies to allow us to claim some that are in the air now. We must invent and improve our grid's ability to save, store and then sell electricity from turbines and panels throughout the day--no matter where the sun is, at a given time, or whether the wind is blowing. We can build with steel and cement that's better for our air; ship and haul cargo to far-away places with less or different fuel; reconfigure the last mile of energy and transportation in how it functions."

Regulating Big Tech is more sensical approach than breakup

Member of hacktivist group, "Cult of the Dead Cow"

Members of the group have protected O'Rourke's secret for decades, reluctant to compromise his political viability. Now, in a series of interviews, CDC members have acknowledged O'Rourke as one of their own.

There is no indication that O'Rourke ever engaged in the edgiest sorts of hacking activity, such as breaking into computers. But his membership in the group could explain his approach to politics better than anything on his resume. His background in hacking circles has repeatedly informed his strategy as he explored and subverted established procedures in technology, the media and government.

Stimulus spending invests in areas like infrastructure

Ted Cruz (R): No. Choice between more & more spending & individual liberty.

Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Supports investment in areas like infrastructure & education.

Rolling back net neutrality hurts democracy

Ted Cruz (R): No. Net neutrality puts government in charge of pricing, products & services.

Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Rolling back net neutrality hurts democracy, the arts & innovation.

Voted NO on protecting cyber security by sharing data with government.

• CISPA conducts federal cybersecurity activities to provide shared situational awareness enabling integrated operational actions to protect, prevent, and recover from cyber incidents.

Proponent's Argument for voting Yes:

• Rep. SINEMA: We need a 21st century solution for this 21st century problem. This bill ensures that research and development, intellectual property, and software code is no longer being stolen by China, Iran, and Russia.
• Rep. MAFFEI: We've already seen state actors like the People's Republic of China pursue widespread data theft from American computer networks. This is a clear and present danger.

• Rep. McNERNEY: I'm concerned with the civil protections not required in H.R. 624. Businesses should be required to remove personally identifiable information before submitting data to Federal agencies.
• CNet.com: Rep. Ron Paul warned that CISPA represents the "latest assault on Internet freedom"; that "CISPA is Big Brother writ large." CISPA would permit, but not require, Internet companies to hand over confidential customer records to federal agencies. What sparked the privacy worries--including opposition from the ACLU and the Republican Liberty Caucus--is the section of CISPA that says "notwithstanding any other provision of law." By including the word "notwithstanding," CISPA's drafters intended to make their legislation trump all existing laws. It would render irrelevant wiretap laws, Web companies' privacy policies, and more.
• Rep. LOFGREN: CISPA could allow any private company to share vast amounts of sensitive, private data about its customers with the government. CISPA would override all other privacy laws, and allow a private company to share nearly anything--from the contents of private emails to medical records--as long as it "directly pertains to" a broadly defined "cyber threat."