State of Missouri Archives: on Technology


Vicky Hartzler: Expand rural access to high-speed broadband

After visiting with people in our area, I took action to address the need for more rural broadband which is impacting students' education, denying seniors access to tele-health, and stifling job creation in rural communities. I passed legislation expanding access to rural broadband and ensuring internet speeds will be adequate not just for now, but also into the future.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website VickyHartzler.com Jul 9, 2021

Eric Schmitt: Launched massive antitrust probe to stop Big Tech abuses

When Facebook was canceling conservatives and Google was using their platform to hurt consumers and businesses, Eric filed a lawsuit and launched a massive antitrust probe to stop Big Tech abuses.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website SchmittForSenate.com May 2, 2021

Josh Hawley: Facebook is anti-competitive, should be broken up

Two of the most ideologically opposed members of the Senate, Josh Hawley and Bernie Sanders, are arguing essentially the same thing: that Facebook should be broken up. By predatorily acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp, by integrating its original message board-like function and its photo sharing and chat acquisitions into its data mining and advertising operations, Facebook has met all the established definitions of anti-competitive behavior.
Source: The Week newsmagazine on 2024 Missouri Senate race Dec 14, 2020

Lucas Kunce: Tech giants structurally unable to defend American interests

Tech platforms say we should protect their concentrated power for the sake of America's national security. But their history shows tech giants are structurally unable to defend American interests. All calls to preserve massive corporations in the name of national security rely on two problematic assumptions: first, that monopolies can be reliable partners who will look out for America's national security; second, that monopolies are more effective than open markets. Neither is true.
Source: ProMarket.org blog on 2022 Missouri Senate race Aug 7, 2020

Mike Parson: Lack of access to high speed broadband is unacceptable

We currently have about ten school districts and many rural communities that lack access to high speed broadband. and that is unacceptable. Most recently, Missouri secured $255 million for the expansion of broadband to connect our state. it is important we at the state provide funding to cover the gaps in delivering broadband. That is why my budget calls for an additional $5 million in broadband funding to close the gap.
Source: 2020 Missouri State of the State address Jan 15, 2020

Mike Parson: Invest $350M in bridges, and $5M internet access

The Governor announced several long-term investments in Missouri's infrastructure, beginning with $5 million to help every Missourian have access to high-speed broadband internet. He also announced $350 million freed up to allow MoDOT to begin immediate work on nearly 250 bridges across Missouri in need of critical repair or replacement. Further, $50 million were announced for a transportation cost share program to assist cities and counties with addressing the most serious infrastructure needs.
Source: Press release on 2019 Missouri State of the State address Jan 16, 2019

Claire McCaskill: Restore rule requiring Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Hawley: Unknown.

McCaskill: Yes. Co-sponsored bill to restore rule requiring this.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Nov 1, 2018

Claire McCaskill: Supports federal infrastructure investment

Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Josh Hawley (R): Unknown.

Claire McCaskill (D): Supports federal infrastructure investment.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Eric Greitens: OpEd: used self-immolating texting despite open records laws

In December 2017, Greitens and senior members of his staff were accused by Democrats and government transparency advocates of subverting Missouri's open records laws after the Kansas City Star reported that they used Confide, a messaging app that erases texts after they have been read, on their personal phones. Two attorneys filed suit, claiming that use of such "self-immolating" apps by elected officials and government employees violates Missouri's public records laws.

On January 3, 2018, House Bill 1817 was filed in the state legislature, to ban use of apps like Confide in conducting public business, and the House Speaker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that in its 2018 session the legislature might consider modernizing the state's current open records laws. Attorney General Josh Hawley initiated an investigation regarding possible violations of the state's Sunshine laws, after allegations that a state employee had managed a social media account on behalf the governor.

Source: Wikipedia.com on 2018 Missouri Gubernatorial impeachment Aug 31, 2018

Josh Hawley: Investigate state use of self-immolating messaging

In December 2017, Greitens and senior members of his staff were accused by Democrats and government transparency advocates of subverting Missouri's open records laws after the Kansas City Star reported that they used Confide, a messaging app that erases texts after they have been read, on their personal phones.

Attorney General Hawley at first claimed conflict of interest, but on December 20 announced his office would investigate, saying that the matter was legally complex because the state Sunshine Law "was written decades and decades ago and has not been updated to take into account" technological changes.

On January 3, 2018, House Bill 1817 was filed in the state legislature, to ban use of apps like Confide in conducting public business. Attorney General Hawley initiated an investigation regarding possible violations of the state's Sunshine laws, after allegations that a state employee had managed a social media account on behalf the governor.

Source: Wikipedia.com on 2018 Missouri Gubernatorial impeachment Aug 31, 2018

Mike Parson: Supports raising gasoline tax to help rebuild infrastructure

Gov. Parson offered initial support for raising the state's gasoline tax to help rebuild roads and bridges across Missouri. On his second full working day the man, who took over for scandal-plagued Gov. Eric Greitens, told reporters that improving the state's transportation network will be a priority in his administration. "I'm going to be supporting and, yes, if that's part of the infrastructure plan," he said. "We need to make sure we've got a good plan in place."
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch on 2018 Missouri Gubernatorial race Jun 5, 2018

Tony Monetti: Re-invest in workers and a crumbling infrastructure

Let's face it, the economy touches every single citizen. We are dependent upon a strong, robust economy that reflects responsible investment and growth balanced by intelligent and responsible spending. It's time to re-invest in those things that made this Nation great: its citizens, small businessmen, farmers, ranchers, workers and a crumbling infrastructure. The federal government should be doing everything within its power to reduce regulations that cripple small businesses, family owned farms and ranches, to increase jobs, manufacturing, and our transportation networks, and to provide businesses with the access to capital while providing fair laws and wages for our strongest asset--our workforce.
Source: 2018 Missouri Senatorial campaign website monetti4senate.com Feb 22, 2018

Tony Monetti: Investment in infrastructure means jobs

It's time to re-invest in those things that made this Nation great: its citizens, small businessmen, farmers, ranchers, workers and a crumbling infrastructure. The federal government should reduce regulations that cripple small businesses, family owned farms and ranches, increase our transportation networks, and provide businesses with the access to capital while providing fair laws and wages for our strongest asset--our workforce.
Source: 2018 Missouri Senatorial website MonettiForSenate.com Oct 15, 2017

Eric Greitens: Replace 1959 COBOL systems with online government

Right now, getting permits takes too long. People stand in too many lines for too many hours for too many basic services. Part of the reason for this is that our government is running on too many broken and outdated systems that make it too hard to serve the people. Some of our government's systems are still programmed using COBOL, a computer language developed in 1959.

We need a modern government that allows people to do more on-line instead of making them wait in line. We also need to remember that many essential government services, whether it's law enforcement, transportation, or education, are delivered by people.

And our best state employees are being hurt by a big bloated bureaucracy. In Indiana, they have 46 state employees per 10,000 people in their state. In Illinois, they have 47 state employees for every 10,000 people. In Ohio, they have 55. And in Missouri? We have 92 employees for every 10,000 people in our state.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Missouri Legislature Jan 17, 2017

Roy Blunt: Americans have been too willing to share their personal data

Blunt spoke about threats to cybersecurity. He has introduced legislation to improve data protection. He said afterward that stealing information has been made easier by how willing Americans have been to share their personal data.ÿ "All of us probably checked 'Agree' too many times," he said.

Blunt closed his speech saying it is "futile" to pursue security without liberty, and he suggested the Trans-Pacific Partnership would be one way to expand freedom worldwide.

Source: Columbia Missourian on 2016 Missouri Senate race Sep 14, 2015

Jay Nixon: MoBroadbandNow: Bring broadband to every corner of our state

Last year, I said that we needed to bring broadband to every corner of our state. We all know that technology drives today's job market. We live in a high-speed, digital world, where the most tech-savvy, early adapters will succeed. Soon, 88 Missouri counties will be better connected, at faster speeds, to each other and to the world. High-speed broadband will have a dramatic impact on our economy, and on our quality of life.

It will connect tens of thousands of homes in rural Missouri to a network of vital community services like fire and police, schools and hospitals, libraries and government.

The competition for federal funds was steep. But our MoBroadbandNow partnership was a stunning success. More than $260 million will be coming to Missouri, which in turn will generate tens of millions of dollars in new investment, and create thousands of new jobs.

Source: 2011 Missouri State of the State Address Jan 19, 2011

  • The above quotations are from State of Missouri Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Technology:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021