State of Texas Archives: on Technology
Beto O`Rourke:
Stimulus spending invests in areas like infrastructure
Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?Ted Cruz (R): No. Choice between more & more spending & individual liberty.
Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Supports investment in areas like infrastructure & education.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Beto O`Rourke:
Rolling back net neutrality hurts democracy
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?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.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Greg Abbott:
Broadband not a luxury; it's an essential tool
From medicine to education to business, broadband access is not a luxury--
it is an essential tool that must be available for all Texans. That's why I am making the expansion of broadband access an emergency item this session.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Texas legislature
Feb 2, 2021
Greg Abbott:
Proposition 1: the people have demanded $4B for roads
With the passage of Proposition 1 this past November, Texans sent a loud and clear message that they are tired of being stuck in traffic. It's a sad day in Texas when a guy in a wheelchair can move faster than traffic on our congested roads.
My budget adds more than $4 billion a year to build more roads in Texas without raising taxes, fees, tolls or debt. This funding comes from 3 places: One is the funding received from Proposition 1. Two, it ends diversions of state highway funds--
tax dollars paid for roads should be spent on roads. Third, my plan constitutionally dedicates one-half of the existing motor vehicle sales tax to fund roads.
The plan--including the constitutional amendment--is needed to ensure TxDOT has the
sustainable, recurring and predictable revenue needed to plan large-scale, multi-year construction projects. Regardless of the priorities that may exist in this Capitol, the voters made unequivocally clear their priority--they want roads funded.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Texas Legislature
Feb 17, 2015
Greg Abbott:
Innovation renaissance: biotech, wearable tech, clean tech
We all know that Texas leads the nation in areas like oil and gas. Importantly though, Texas is in the middle of an innovation renaissance that weans our economy off of energy.Biotech. Defense tech. Wearable tech. Clean tech. Technologies developed
in Texas are changing the world in which we live. The Dallas, Houston and Austin areas are now known as three of the world's premiere "knowledge capitals." And get this: Midland beats the San Francisco area in the percentage of jobs created by startups.
And, we continue to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
For example, Texas now has more public high schools ranked in the top 100 than any other state. We have the fourth highest high school graduation rate in America.
We are second among Hispanic and African-American students, and first among economically disadvantaged students. And the No. 1 public high school in America is in Dallas Independent School District.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Texas Legislature
Jan 31, 2017
John Cornyn:
Curb abusive patent litigation that stifles innovation
A member of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, Senator Cornyn has worked to fight the "brain drain" of top foreign students who earn graduate degrees in STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, pushing legislation that
would help retain the world's best and brightest minds here in the U.S.: enabling American competitiveness on the global stage and bolstering job creation here at home. In an effort to curb abusive patent litigation that stifles innovation,
Senator Cornyn has authored the Patent Abuse Reduction Act to update antiquated patent laws and protect inventors unfairly targeted by "trolls" looking for an easy payday. Representing a state home to our space program, world-renowned medical
centers, leading research universities and one of the nation's fastest-growing technology corridors, Senator Cornyn will continue to ensure that Texas remains at the forefront of American innovation for decades to come.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2014 Texas Senate incumbents
Oct 25, 2014
Lupe Valdez:
Invest in expanded transportation infrastructure
Valdez: Supports investment in expanded transportation infrastructure, high-speed rail, better public transit and self-driving cars. .
[Opponent Andrew] White: Supports investment in expanded transportation infrastructure, high-speed rail, better public transit and self-driving cars.
Source: Houston Chronicle on 2018 Texas Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2018
Republican Party:
Oppose net-neutrality & social media censorship
Platform Section 71. Regulating the Internet: We oppose efforts to implement net-neutrality on internet service providers.Platform Section 72. Personal Data Privacy: We demand that all rights to privacy that individuals have in their homes should be
extended to all digital data via the use of strong public key encryption technologies.
Platform Section 73. Social Media Freedom: We call on our Congressional Delegation to push for reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to limit the
ability of online social media platforms to censor the speech of citizens in the new digital town square, which they currently control. We support efforts that afford Texas residents the power to sue Big Tech Companies for targeting and censorship.
Platform Section 74. Cyber Security Self-Defense: We support "hack-backs", defined as counterattacks aimed at disabling or collecting evidence against a perpetrator, as a legitimate form of self-defense to ensure their cyber security.
Source: Texas Republican Party: Final Report from Platform Committee
Jun 16, 2022
Rick Perry:
$40M for 5,500 students in Texas Technology Grants
I am advocating that we set aside $40 million for a new Texas Technology Grant program. Texas produces 5,500 graduates a year in electrical engineering, engineering technology and computer science while our economy produces
11,000 annual job openings in those fields. Let's invest in technology scholarships so that Texans are on the forefront of technology innovation, whether it is here at home, or in outer space.
Source: Texas 2007 State of the State address
Feb 6, 2007
Steve Stockman:
Accepts Bitcoin donations as an alternative to fiat currency
Steve Stockman is the outsider's outsider--what other Texan would spend a freezing New Year's hundreds of miles away in New York City? But there he was last night at the launch event for the NYC Bitcoin Center, located just up the street from the
New York Stock Exchange.The Bitcoin Center itself is still in something of a planning stage, existing more as a statement about Bitcoin itself, though it plans on hosting a hackathon later this month.
Stockman, a vocal opponent of Fed policy, told Business Insider last night that he wants to promote Bitcoin, whose most fervent evangelists tout as an alternative to "fiat currency" [such as dollars; Bitcoin is not backed by any government].
To do so, he is now accepting Bitcoin for his Senate campaign against incumbent John Cornyn.
Source: Business Insider on 2014 Texas Senate race
Jan 1, 2014
Ted Cruz:
Net neutrality puts government in charge of internet
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?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.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Ted Cruz:
Require Apple to unlock iPhones used by terrorists
Q: What about the government requiring Apple to unlock an Apple iPhone used by a terrorist?CRUZ: Apple should be forced to comply with the court order because under the Fourth Amendment, a search and seizure is reasonable if it has judicial
authorization and probable cause. We should enforce the court order and find out everyone that terrorist at San Bernardino talked to on the phone, texted with, e-mailed. Apple doesn't have a right to defy a court order in a terrorism investigation.
RUBIO: Apple doesn't want to do it because they think it hurts their brand. Well, let me tell you, their brand is not superior to the national security of the United States of America.
KASICH: The president should have convened a meeting with
Apple and our security forces. You lock the door and you say you're not coming out until you reach an agreement that both gives the security people what they need and protects the rights of Americans.
Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary
Feb 25, 2016
Tony Sanchez:
Create incentives to keep technology workers in state
The technology boom has brought thousands of skilled workers to the state. In recent years, the technology sector has created more wealth than the oil and gas industry. The state needs to work with the private sector to create public/private partnerships
to retain these workers. For minimal upfront costs, the state can invest in its workforce to give displaced workers a place to register their skills, and match those skills with specific job requirements.
Source: Campaign web site, "Issues: Texas Talent Retention"
May 2, 2002
Colin Allred:
Invest billions in infrastructure & CHIPs Act for high-tech
Q: What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?A: I am running for Senate to give Texans the honest, pragmatic leadership we deserve. I'm proud to have been named the most bipartisan member of the
Texas Congressional Delegation, and I have shown during my time in Congress that I can deliver for Texans. Whether that is fighting to protect the
Affordable Care Act, and with it protections for folks with preexisting conditions, capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month and lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors on
Medicare or passing billions of dollars in investments in infrastructure as well as the CHIPs Act to invest high-tech manufacturing.
Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection on 2024 Texas Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
Colin Allred:
Voted for bipartisan bill for funding infrastructure
Economy : Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?- Colin Allred (D): Increase. Voted for a bipartisan bill to provide funding for infrastructure.
-
Ted Cruz (R): Decrease. Voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill, calling it "reckless."
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Texas Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
James Talarico:
Increase funding to expand high-speed internet access
- Invest in digital literacy programs: Create federal grant programs for schools, libraries, and community partners to teach critical skills for identifying misinformation, using digital media responsibly, and helping parents protect their
children online.
- Expand access to high-speed internet: Increase funding dedicated to expanding high-speed internet access across Texas to meet the federal government's original $3.3 billion commitment to our state.
Source: 2026 Texas Senate campaign website JamesTalarico.com
Feb 17, 2026
Gina Hinojosa:
Texas is the Wild West of data centers right now
So that people understand, Texas is the Wild West of data centers right now. We have hundreds that have descended upon us, with the richest tax breaks in the country given to data centers by Greg Abbott. And people are angry because they're not
protected when it comes to their water, their electricity. And people just want a seat at the table to decide if and how these data centers come into their communities. They deserve that. We need to pass laws to protect the people of Texas.
Source: CNN SOTU on 2026 Texas Gubernatorial race
Sep 6, 2026
Greg Abbott:
I have pressed pause on any new data center in Texas
I have pressed pause on any new data center being able to join the operations in the state of Texas. During that pause, I have set guidelines and guardrails that all data centers have to comply with. Number one, they must identify what water usage
they're demanding and make clear they are not taking water from communities that need it. Number two, they must not take power from the Texas power grid that's needed. Number three, they must actually lower the cost of electricity for consumers.
Source: ABC This Week on 2026 Texas Gubernatorial race
Aug 23, 2026
Page last updated: Oct 18, 2026