State of Texas Archives: on Technology


Greg Abbott: Broadband not a luxury; it's an essential tool

From medicine to education to business, broadband access is not a luxury-- it is an essential tool that must be available for all Texans. That's why I am making the expansion of broadband access an emergency item this session.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Texas legislature Feb 2, 2021

Beto O`Rourke: Stimulus spending invests in areas like infrastructure

Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Ted Cruz (R): No. Choice between more & more spending & individual liberty.

Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Supports investment in areas like infrastructure & education.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Beto O`Rourke: Rolling back net neutrality hurts democracy

Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?

Ted Cruz (R): No. Net neutrality puts government in charge of pricing, products & services.

Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Rolling back net neutrality hurts democracy, the arts & innovation.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Ted Cruz: Net neutrality puts government in charge of internet

Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?

Ted Cruz (R): No. Net neutrality puts government in charge of pricing, products & services.

Beto O'Rourke (D): Yes. Rolling back net neutrality hurts democracy, the arts & innovation.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Lupe Valdez: Invest in expanded transportation infrastructure

Valdez: Supports investment in expanded transportation infrastructure, high-speed rail, better public transit and self-driving cars. .

[Opponent Andrew] White: Supports investment in expanded transportation infrastructure, high-speed rail, better public transit and self-driving cars.

Source: Houston Chronicle on 2018 Texas Gubernatorial race May 18, 2018

Greg Abbott: Innovation renaissance: biotech, wearable tech, clean tech

We all know that Texas leads the nation in areas like oil and gas. Importantly though, Texas is in the middle of an innovation renaissance that weans our economy off of energy.

Biotech. Defense tech. Wearable tech. Clean tech. Technologies developed in Texas are changing the world in which we live. The Dallas, Houston and Austin areas are now known as three of the world's premiere "knowledge capitals." And get this: Midland beats the San Francisco area in the percentage of jobs created by startups. And, we continue to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.

For example, Texas now has more public high schools ranked in the top 100 than any other state. We have the fourth highest high school graduation rate in America. We are second among Hispanic and African-American students, and first among economically disadvantaged students. And the No. 1 public high school in America is in Dallas Independent School District.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Texas Legislature Jan 31, 2017

Ted Cruz: Require Apple to unlock iPhones used by terrorists

Q: What about the government requiring Apple to unlock an Apple iPhone used by a terrorist?

CRUZ: Apple should be forced to comply with the court order because under the Fourth Amendment, a search and seizure is reasonable if it has judicial authorization and probable cause. We should enforce the court order and find out everyone that terrorist at San Bernardino talked to on the phone, texted with, e-mailed. Apple doesn't have a right to defy a court order in a terrorism investigation.

RUBIO: Apple doesn't want to do it because they think it hurts their brand. Well, let me tell you, their brand is not superior to the national security of the United States of America.

KASICH: The president should have convened a meeting with Apple and our security forces. You lock the door and you say you're not coming out until you reach an agreement that both gives the security people what they need and protects the rights of Americans.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

Greg Abbott: Proposition 1: the people have demanded $4B for roads

With the passage of Proposition 1 this past November, Texans sent a loud and clear message that they are tired of being stuck in traffic. It's a sad day in Texas when a guy in a wheelchair can move faster than traffic on our congested roads.

My budget adds more than $4 billion a year to build more roads in Texas without raising taxes, fees, tolls or debt. This funding comes from 3 places: One is the funding received from Proposition 1. Two, it ends diversions of state highway funds-- tax dollars paid for roads should be spent on roads. Third, my plan constitutionally dedicates one-half of the existing motor vehicle sales tax to fund roads.

The plan--including the constitutional amendment--is needed to ensure TxDOT has the sustainable, recurring and predictable revenue needed to plan large-scale, multi-year construction projects. Regardless of the priorities that may exist in this Capitol, the voters made unequivocally clear their priority--they want roads funded.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 Texas Legislature Feb 17, 2015

John Cornyn: Curb abusive patent litigation that stifles innovation

A member of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, Senator Cornyn has worked to fight the "brain drain" of top foreign students who earn graduate degrees in STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, pushing legislation that would help retain the world's best and brightest minds here in the U.S.: enabling American competitiveness on the global stage and bolstering job creation here at home. In an effort to curb abusive patent litigation that stifles innovation, Senator Cornyn has authored the Patent Abuse Reduction Act to update antiquated patent laws and protect inventors unfairly targeted by "trolls" looking for an easy payday. Representing a state home to our space program, world-renowned medical centers, leading research universities and one of the nation's fastest-growing technology corridors, Senator Cornyn will continue to ensure that Texas remains at the forefront of American innovation for decades to come.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2014 Texas Senate incumbents Oct 25, 2014

Steve Stockman: Accepts Bitcoin donations as an alternative to fiat currency

Steve Stockman is the outsider's outsider--what other Texan would spend a freezing New Year's hundreds of miles away in New York City? But there he was last night at the launch event for the NYC Bitcoin Center, located just up the street from the New York Stock Exchange.

The Bitcoin Center itself is still in something of a planning stage, existing more as a statement about Bitcoin itself, though it plans on hosting a hackathon later this month.

Stockman, a vocal opponent of Fed policy, told Business Insider last night that he wants to promote Bitcoin, whose most fervent evangelists tout as an alternative to "fiat currency" [such as dollars; Bitcoin is not backed by any government]. To do so, he is now accepting Bitcoin for his Senate campaign against incumbent John Cornyn.

Source: Business Insider on 2014 Texas Senate race Jan 1, 2014

Rick Perry: $40M for 5,500 students in Texas Technology Grants

I am advocating that we set aside $40 million for a new Texas Technology Grant program. Texas produces 5,500 graduates a year in electrical engineering, engineering technology and computer science while our economy produces 11,000 annual job openings in those fields. Let's invest in technology scholarships so that Texans are on the forefront of technology innovation, whether it is here at home, or in outer space.
Source: Texas 2007 State of the State address Feb 6, 2007

Tony Sanchez: Create incentives to keep technology workers in state

The technology boom has brought thousands of skilled workers to the state. In recent years, the technology sector has created more wealth than the oil and gas industry. The state needs to work with the private sector to create public/private partnerships to retain these workers. For minimal upfront costs, the state can invest in its workforce to give displaced workers a place to register their skills, and match those skills with specific job requirements.
Source: Campaign web site, “Issues: Texas Talent Retention” May 2, 2002

  • The above quotations are from State of Texas Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Technology.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Technology:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021