Hatch To Lead GOP Tech Task Force
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, was tapped by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday, to lead the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, a group aimed at ensuring the nation's technology firms remain at the forefront of the world economy. The news came on the heels of Virginia Republican Bob Goodlatte's appointment to lead a similar organization in the House. Hatch said in an interview with Tech Daily Dose that he will work closely with Goodlatte as both chambers examine issues critical to U.S. competitiveness. Some of Hatch's priorities include promoting private sector innovation; creating a business environment that attracts the leading tech firms; spurring investment through incentives and tax reforms; encouraging fair industry standard development processes; enhancing the nation's workforce; improving antitrust review; and eliminating barriers to trade.
"Even in the midst of the worst recession in decades, the nation's tech industry as a whole was able to add 77,000 jobs last year," Hatch said. "Given the current economic climate, it is critically important for lawmakers to enact legislation that will spur innovation, create jobs and maintain our nation's technological edge. I am confident this task force can do that and will do everything in my power to ensure that it does." He added that Utah is fast emerging as a major player in the IT industry. Inc. magazine reported there are more than 5,200 IT and life-science firms in the Beehive State that create nearly 66,000 high-paying jobs. The growth of IT firms in Utah in 2004 and 2005 outpaced the growth rates in Arizona, California, Colorado and Washington.
Joining Hatch on the GOP task force are: Jim Bunning of Kentucky; Richard Burr of North Carolina; John Cornyn of Texas; Mike Crapo of Idaho; John Ensign of Nevada; Mike Enzi of Wyoming; Judd Gregg of New Hampshire; Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas; Pat Roberts of Kansas; John Thune of South Dakota; and David Vitter of Louisiana. The group's Democratic counterpart, led by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., last Congress, has not been officially formed this year but sources said an ad hoc group of members have held briefings on a range of issues.
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