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Holiday Policy Bonuses For Techies
Not many political creatures are stirring in Washington these days because the 109th Congress has adjourned. But lawmakers didn't leave town before clearing various technology-related bills in a marathon session that ran into last weekend.
The eleventh-hour push saw action on legislation to renew the research and development tax credit and expand trade relations with Vietnam. Lawmakers had been working toward a deal on those key issues throughout the post-election session, and it represented a big win for the technology sector.
The Senate also cleared a bill to criminalize the practice of "pretexting," or obtaining confidential phone records under false pretenses. Other measures sent to President Bush would strengthen and expand the tsunami warning system, combat Internet fraud, create an electronic reporting system for health research, and expand technology sales to India.
This week's podcast also looks ahead to the 110th Congress and some of what the tech industry can expect (a greater focus on privacy protection) and not expect (action on "innovation" issues in the first 100 hours of Democratic rule).
Posted by Technology Daily on December 15, 2006 11:28 AM | Permalink
