Q: We’re interested in knowing how much each one of you uses the Internet. How much time do you spend on it? A: Not nearly as well as I should. My wife Cindy is a whiz. And when I want to find out what’s on CNN, or The NY Times, or other communist
periodicals, I always go to it. But the phenomenal thing about the Internet [is that] we’ve gotten like $7 million in contributions over the Internet. It’s been marvelous. $7 million, because they want reform, they want the government back.
Source: GOP debate in Los Angeles
Mar 2, 2000
Digital Divide requires tax credits for equipment & teachers
Q: Should we spend government funds to address the “digital divide?” A: There’s a growing gap between the haves and the have-nots in America -- those that are able to take part in this information technology and those that haven’t. We took a major step
forward when we decided to wire every school and library in America to the Internet. That’s a good program. We have to have step two, three and four, which means good equipment, good teachers and good classrooms. No, I wouldn’t do it directly, but
there’s lots of ways that you can encourage corporations who, in their own self-interest, would want to provide -- would receive tax benefits, would receive credit, and many other ways for being
involved in the schools and upgrading the quality of the equipment that they have, the quality of the students, and thereby providing a much-needed, well-trained work force.
Source: GOP Debate in Manchester NH
Jan 26, 2000
Internet tax ban saved consumers $600M this Xmas
Q: Do you support taxing Internet commerce? A: If we had had Internet taxation over the holiday, American citizens would have paid an additional $600 million in taxes. This Internet tax moratorium
should be made permanent. It should be made permanent today. The American people are taking advantage of a wonderful new opportunity with this technology. We should do everything we can to encourage it.
Source: Republican debate in West Columbia, South Carolina
Jan 7, 2000
Free TV & radio to candidates as a public interest
Q: Are you in favor of free and equal TV time for all candidates?
A: The TV and radio stations use the public’s assets, the spectrum, in order to function. When they get a license to use that, they sign a piece of paper that says they will act in the
“public interest.” It seems to me that the public interest is clearly that they should help with the political process. These folks are good at enticing people to watch their stations. I think they could do a good job helping candidates attract viewers.
Source: Joint interview with Bradley & McCain
Dec 16, 1999
Make Internet tax moratorium permanent
McCAIN [to Hatch]: Orrin, you & I have worked on a couple very important pieces of legislation in the past few years. One of them is the Y2K Product Liability Reform Act, which was very important to keep us from experiencing a flood of litigation as
a result of the year 2000. The other one was the Internet Tax Moratorium Act. As you know, this was stoutly resisted by governors, Republican governors as well. Don’t you think we ought to make the Internet tax moratorium permanent?
HATCH: Yeah,
we ought to do it because it’s far overblown to think that people buying over the Internet is going to [hurt store sales]. But we [should] be encouraging one of the most important innovations in the history of the world, the Internet. And I’ll tell
you what I’m worried about: the almighty hand of the federal government coming in & oppressing the Internet & stifling innovation and creativity. We want to keep government’s mitts off as much as we can. And if we do, we’ll reap the benefits from it.
Source: (cross-ref. to Hatch) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
Dec 7, 1999
Encourage teachers to learn high tech
It’s probably the most pressing issue that faces America as we want to fully exploit the potential of this information technology revolution that we’re going through. We simply don’t have the teachers, nor do we have the educated people to fulfill this
incredible potential that is changing America and the world. It’s important that we have merit pay for teachers, that we have teacher testing, that we do everything we can to motivate young men and women to enter this profession.
Source: Republican Debate at Dartmouth College
Oct 29, 1999
Technology can hasten end of haves vs. have-nots
The blessings of technology give us the means to breach the walls of ignorance and isolation. We [can reach] our founding ideal that all men are created equal by giving all Americans access to information and knowledge, and an equal opportunity not only
to pursue, but to attain happiness. Education is the great equalizer and used wisely, the information revolution will hasten the end of a two-tiered society of haves and have nots, and advance human freedom into the even the darkest corners of tyranny.
McCain released a report of the “Ten Most Wanted” government documents online. The report also lists the federal agencies that have failed to comply with the 1996 Electronic Freedom Act, which required government agencies to allow taxpayers access to
federal documents. “I find it astonishing that the Supreme Court of Mongolia has an official web site, but the US Supreme Court still does not,” said McCain. “It is critical to make as much information as possible available to the public over the Interne
Source: Press Release: “Ten Most Wanted Online”
Aug 4, 1999
Telecommuncations Act was an influence-peddling scheme
McCain said the Telecommunications Act of 1996 - which he opposed on final passage - has resulted in increased cable TV rates because consumers were not represented when it was being negotiated. “It is nothing less than an elaborate influence-peddling
scheme in which both parties conspire to stay in office by selling the country to the highest bidder,” he said.
Source: Matthew Fordahl, Associated Press
Jul 7, 1999
Internet access, with filters, at every school & library
McCain seeks high-speed Internet access for every school, but suggested requiring filtering software for all public school and library computers as a way to keep children from potentially harmful Internet sites.
Source: (cross-ref to Education) Associated Press
Jun 14, 1999
No government control over computer encryption
McCain introduced the “Promote Reliable On-Line Transactions to Encourage Commerce and Trade (PROTECT) Act” (S.798) which:
Legalize development, sale, and use of encryption
Prohibits government from requiring an encryption key (solution) or
other computer access
Prohibits the government from adopting any standard that establishes an encryption standard for use by businesses other than for federal computer systems
Prohibits restricting the export of encryption products.
Source: Senate statements S.798
Apr 14, 1999
Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium.
Vote to table, or kill, an amendment that would allow states to require companies who do business in their state solely by phone, mail, or the Internet to collect state sales taxes. [Current law does not require companies to collect sales taxes where the
