Parties debate who is the high-tech world’s best friend

Erin Neff

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002 | 9:13 a.m.

Although a few minor spats broke out between congressional Republicans and Democrats during a panel discussion Wednesday at the Consumer Electronic Show, all eight lawmakers agreed bipartisan support is needed to pass any high-tech issues.

"Across the Virual Aisle: Which Party is Best for Consumer Technology?" pitted four lawmakers from each party -- including Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Conrad Burns, R-Mont. -- against each other for a debate.

And though the two senators opened the sessional amicably by discussing bipartisan successes, a freshman Republican congressman and former president of the Consumer Electronics Association immediately labeled his party as technology's champion.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., opened the fray by reading results of a partisan organization's report card on House leaders' votes on technology. Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, received a 100 percent, while Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., received a 50 percent.

"That's an A versus an F," said Issa, who chaired the 1999 and 2000 Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas.

Leahy retorted that since Issa is "fairly new to the Congress," he may not be aware how partisan such report cards can be.

"They assume people don't know enough to read beyond a scorecard," Leahy said. "But every single piece of good high-tech legislation ... has had very bipartisan support."

Leahy was seated to the left of CEA President Gary Shapiro with representatives Susan Davis, D-Calif., Dennis Moore, D-Kan., and Adam Smith, D-Wash. Issa was fittingly at Shapiro's right, along with Burns and Reps. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Mike Bilirakis, R-Fla.

"Putting four of them over there and four of us over here doesn't get us anywhere," Smith said.

Bilirakis said he agreed that Congress can act in a bipartisan manner for most specific technology issues.

"When it comes to the generic issues, I think there are more differences," he added.

For example, all eight agreed broadband issues have to be sorted out in favor of the consumer electronics industry.

However, Bilirakis noted the logjam the House had over Fast Track trade authorization for the president.

Upton said that while he has seen bipartisan support for family issues involving Internet chat rooms, the failure of the Fast Track legislation highlights different philosophies between Republicans and Democrats on matters that affect the high-tech economy.

Leahy countered that a provision in a farm bill he co-sponsored with Burns to bring broadband access to rural areas was "filibustered by the Republicans" to show the other party's guilt in stalling a high-tech issue.

On Wednesday morning, the CEOs of Best Buy, Amazon.com, 800.com, Circuit City Stores, RadioShack Corp. and eBay agreed broadband should be a national priority.

But Burns said broadband means different things to Microsoft than it does to Montanans, and he wondered what Congress can set as broadband policy.

Shapiro told the lawmakers his industry wants broadband made a national priority in the same way putting a man on the moon once was.

"Make it happen," he said.

More than 80 government officials, including all four Federal Communication Commission members, 14 members of the House and three senators are invited guests at CES this week.

The industry courts the officials at CES to gain a leg up lobbying them in Washington on high-tech issues.