Technology voter guide 2006 - House of Representatives methodology

By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: November 2, 2006 4:00 AM PST
del.icio.us Digg this A signifies a tech-friendly vote; an X means a tech-unfriendly vote.

For an overview of House of Representatives voting scores, click here. (You'll need an installed application that can read spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel Viewer, OpenOffice.org or Google Spreadsheets.)

1. For H-1B nonimmigrant visas for skilled workers.
These visas, currently limited at 65,000, are temporary work permits for foreigners in "specialty occupations" with the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.
September 1998
Score: Yes=, No=X

2. For a five-year ban on Internet access taxes.
In both the Senate and the House of Representatives, we gave high marks to politicians who voted for a moratorium on Internet access taxes.
May 2000
Score: Yes=, No=X

3. Against the Spanish-American War telecommunications tax.
This "temporary" tax, dating back to 1898, was levied on telephone services.
July 2000
Score: Yes=, No=X

4. Prohibiting Internet gambling.
Contained extensive regulation of Internet service providers and "interactive computer service providers."
July 2000
Score: Yes=X, No=

5. Against normal trade status with China.
This legislation would decrease trading and impose protectionist measures by not renewing normalized trade relations with China.
July 2001
Score: Yes=X, No=

6. Banning some computer-generated porn.
This would ban computer-generated and "morphed" child pornography, even though the U.S. Supreme Court, in an opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas, had recently ruled that such a ban is unconstitutional.
June 2002
Score: Yes=X, No=

7. For Net surveillance without court orders.
This would approve the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, which creates life sentences for computer hackers, even though the same level of malice would be treated differently for physical intrusions. It also increases Internet surveillance performed without a court order.
July 2002
Score: Yes=X, No=

8. For a free-trade bill.
This bill contained Trade Promotion Authority for the president, which benefits free trade and is backed by technology firms.
July 2002
Score: Yes=, No=X

9. Overruling state antispam laws with the Can-Spam Act.
This zapped tougher state laws that in some cases gave spam victims more rights and it has hardly stemmed the flow of junk e-mail.
November 2003
Score: Yes=X, No=

10. Letting the Patent and Trademark Office keep its fees.
This was supported by tech lobby groups, including the Information Technology Industry Council.
March 2004
Score: Yes=, No=X

11. Preserving existing accounting for stock options.
Stock options would not have to be treated as an expense but would continue to be disclosed, as previously, in financial statements.
July 2004
Score: Yes=, No=X

12. For research and development tax credit.
Renewing this was a key concern of technology firms, with the Information Technology Association of America saying that without it, "costs will rise for both future R&D projects and activities already under way, leaving executives to decide if some research and development should be delayed."
September 2004
Score: Yes=, No=X

13. For nationalized ID card, linking databases.
The Real ID Act creates what amounts to a national identity card with "common machine-readable technology." It also raises privacy concerns by saying it will "provide electronic access by a state to information contained in the motor vehicle databases of all other states."
February 2005
Score: Yes=X, No=

14. To curb class action lawsuits.
TechNet called this vote "a major step toward improving our nation's legal system."
February 2005
Score: Yes=, No=X

15. Investigating "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas".
Calling for a formal investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, effectively singling out a computer game for more regulations than a similarly racy book would receive.
July 2005
Score: Yes=X, No=

16. For duplicative "anti-spyware" regulations.
The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission previously said this bill is unnecessary because malicious spyware can already be punished under existing law.
May 2005
Score: Yes=X, No=

17. Disclosing federal data mining to Congress.
Requires a report to Congress on the development and use of data-mining technology by agencies of the federal government.
July 2005
Score: Yes=, No=X

18. Disclosing electronic surveillance to courts.
Requires police to report to a court within 15 days of using the roving aspect of a warrant. Also requires them to report on the total number of electronic surveillances that have been conducted.
July 2005
Score: Yes=, No=X

19. Prohibiting Internet gambling.
To single out Internet gambling for prohibition while not affecting in-person gambling.
July 2006
Score: Yes=X, No=

20.