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Sam Brownback on Technology

Republican Sr Senator (KS)


Cut the Advanced Technology Program; it’s corporate welfare

Q: So name one program you would cut.

A: Advanced Technology Program would be a good one to start with. It goes towards high-end spending, corporate welfare programs. There’s an abundance of those. That’s why you got to change the system, so that it regularly requires a vote of Congress on things to cut. That’s what’ll actually reduce spending.

Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

No Fairness Doctrine: no equal time if morally objectionable

Q: As a Christian radio talk-show host, I don’t want to be forced to broadcast morally objectionable material or give equal time to opponents of our faith. Would you veto any legislation that contains language of the so called “Fairness Doctrine?” HUNTER: The liberals want to be able to cut into every conservative talk show [because they can’t get people to] turn on the dial.
Source: [Xref Hunter] 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate Sep 17, 2007

Apply broadcast indecency rules to cable networks

Q: Currently the broadcast indecency rules only apply to local broadcast stations. Do you support and believe that broadcast indecency rules should be expanded to cable networks as well?
Source: [Xref Paul] 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate Sep 17, 2007

Pushed FTC study of inappropriateness of kids’ music

We finally came up with two approaches that worked. One was getting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a study as to whether or not the entertainment industry was target marketing children with products they had rated as inappropriate for children of that age. In other words, were PG-13 movies being target marketed to 10-year-old boys? Or were violent video games rated “M” for “mature” being marketed to teenage boys?
Source: From Power to Purpose, by Sam Brownback, p.104-107 Jul 3, 2007

Internet porn destroys the minds and souls of many

Internet, and there’s almost no way to prevent them from stumbling onto those Web sites by accident.

It’s important that we find ways to block these images so that children aren’t exposed to salacious materials in this way. It’s just as important that we counsel our kids if we find that they’ve been exposed to it. Pornography exploits both men and women in the most vulgar ways. It treats them as meat, to be bought and sold and manipulated. That in itself is offensive.

Source: From Power to Purpose, by Sam Brownback, p.123-125 Jul 3, 2007

Network neutrality represents the heavy hand of regulation

The Club for Growth supports more sensible government regulation, and less government regulation overall, as a critical step toward increasing freedom and growth in the marketplace. Sen. Brownback has often demonstrated his respect for the self-regulation of the marketplace and his general aversion to burdensome regulatory measures. These votes include:
Source: Club for Growth, “Second Presidential White Paper” Feb 2, 2007

Popular culture eats away at civic virtue and democracy

The entertainment culture has grown in power and pervasiveness. The biggest reason more of are “bowling alone”--detached from other people and organizations--is that television and other forms of electronic entertainment have supplanted human interaction and affiliations. Certainly, there are positive and edifying programs, games, and songs, but much of the popular culture became popular not by aiming to uplift, but by appealing to the darker side of human nature.

Indeed, much of popular culture is parasitic, eating away at the civic virtues necessary to sustain democratic freedoms. At the very time when self-restraint is so needed, the purveyors of our popular culture send a markedly different message: that liberty is license, and that if not exercised to its maximum--no matter how offensive or distasteful that is--it is in danger of being lost. Ironically, in their bid to ‘celebrate’ freedom, they undermine it, by destroying the moral underpinnings of democratic governance and citizenship.

Source: Building a Healthy Culture, Don Eberly, ed., p. xii-xiii Jun 3, 2001

Voted NO on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure.

Vote on overriding Pres. Bush's veto. The bill reauthorizes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA): to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States. The bill authorizes flood control, navigation, and environmental projects and studies by the Army Corps of Engineers. Also authorizes projects for navigation, ecosystem or environmental restoration, and hurricane, flood, or storm damage reduction in 23 states including Louisiana.

Veto message from President Bush:

This bill lacks fiscal discipline. I fully support funding for water resources projects that will yield high economic and environmental returns. Each year my budget has proposed reasonable and responsible funding, including $4.9 billion for 2008, to support the Army Corps of Engineers' main missions. However, this authorization bill costs over $23 billion. This is not fiscally responsible, particularly when local communities have been waiting for funding for projects already in the pipeline. The bill's excessive authorization for over 900 projects and programs exacerbates the massive backlog of ongoing Corps construction projects, which will require an additional $38 billion in future appropriations to complete. This bill does not set priorities. I urge the Congress to send me a fiscally responsible bill that sets priorities.

Reference: Veto override on Water Resources Development Act; Bill Veto override on H.R. 1495 ; vote number 2007-406 on Nov 8, 2007

Voted NO on restoring $550M in funding for Amtrak for 2007.

An amendment to provide an additional $550,000,000 for Amtrak for fiscal year 2007. Voting YEA would increase Amtrak funding from $900 million to $1.45 billion. Voting NAY would keep Amtrak funding at $900 million.
Reference: Santorum amendment to Transportation funding bill; Bill S.Amdt.3015 to S.Con.Res.83 ; vote number 2006-052 on Mar 15, 2006

Voted NO on disallowing FCC approval of larger media conglomerates.

Vote to pass a joint resolution expressing congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission. The rule would therefore have no force or effect. The rule in question deals with broadcast media ownership and would allow media conglomerates to own more television stations and newspapers.
Reference: FCC Media Ownership bill; Bill S J Res 17/H.J.RES.72 ; vote number 2003-348 on Sep 16, 2003

Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium.

Vote against allowing 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 customer is out of state]
Reference: Bill S.442 ; vote number 1998-296 on Oct 2, 1998

Promote internet via Congressional Internet Caucus.

Brownback is a member of the Congressional Internet Caucus:

Founded in the spring of 1996, the Congressional Internet Caucus is a bipartisan group of over 150 members of the House and Senate working to educate their colleagues about the promise and potential of the Internet. The Caucus also encourages Members to utilize the Internet in communications with constituents and supports efforts to put more government documents online. The Internet Caucus Advisory Committee and the Internet Education Foundation host regular events and forums for policymakers, the press, and the public to discuss important Internet-related policy issues.

Source: Congressional Internet Caucus web site, NetCaucus.org 01-CIC1 on Jan 1, 2001

Permanent ban on state & local taxation of Internet access.

Brownback co-sponsored permanently banning state & local taxation of Internet access

Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007 - Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make permanent the ban on state and local taxation of Internet access and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.

Related bills: H.R.743, H.R.1077, H.R.3678, S.156.

Source: Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (S.2128) 07-S2128 on Oct 2, 2007

Prohibit the return of the Fairness Doctrine.

Brownback signed Broadcaster Freedom Act

A bill to prevent the Federal Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notwithstanding any other provision of any Act, from having the authority to require broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the Fairness Doctrine.

Source: S.34&H.R.226 2009-S34 on Jan 6, 2009

No performance royalties for radio music.

Brownback signed Local Radio Freedom Act

Source: SCR.14&HCR.49 2009-SCR14 on Mar 30, 2009

Other candidates on Technology: Sam Brownback on other issues:
KS Gubernatorial:
Mark Parkinson
KS Senatorial:
Jerry Moran
Joe Bellis
Lisa Johnston
Pat Roberts
Todd Tiahrt

Newly appointed in 2009;
special election in 2010:

DE:Kaufman (D)
CO:Bennet (D)
IL:Burris (D)
MA:Brown (R)
NY:Gillibrand (D)

Announced retirement as of 2010:
CT:Dodd(D)
DE:Kaufman(D)
FL:Martinez (R)
FL:LeMieux(R)
IL:Burris(D)
IN:Bayh(D)
KS:Brownback(R)
KY:Bunning(R)
MO:Bond(R)
ND:Dorgan(D)
NH:Gregg(R)
OH:Voinovich(R)
PA:Specter(R)
UT:Bennett(R)
WV:Byrd(D)
WV:Goodwin(D)


Senate races in 2010:
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AL:Shelby(R) vs.Barnes(D)
AR:Lincoln(D) vs.Boozman(R)
AZ:McCain(R) vs.Glassman(D)
CA:Boxer(D) vs.Fiorina(R) vs.Lightfoot(L)
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DE:Coons(D) vs.O`Donnell(R)
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GA:Isakson(R) vs.Thurmond(D)
HI:Inouye(D) vs.Cavasso(R)
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ID:Crapo(R) vs.Sullivan(D)
IL:Giannoulias(D) vs.Kirk(R)
IN:Ellsworth(D) vs.Coats(R)
KS:Johnston(D) vs.Moran(R) vs.Bellis(Rfm)
KY:Conway(D) vs.Paul(R)
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NV:Reid(D) vs.Angle(R)
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OH:Fisher(R) vs.Portman(D) vs.Deaton(C)
OK:Coburn(R) vs.Myles(D)
OR:Wyden(D) vs.Huffman(R)
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SC:DeMint(R) vs.Greene(D)
SD:Thune(R) unopposed
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Page last updated: Oct 29, 2010