Technology voter guide 2008 - House methodology

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

2. To prohibit Internet gambling.
This contained extensive regulation of Internet service providers and "interactive computer service providers."
July 2000
Score: Yes=X, No=

3. To ban 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=

4. For research and development tax credit.
Renewing this credit 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

5. For the Real ID Act.
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=

6. 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

7. Investigating Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
This called 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=

8. For duplicative "antispyware" 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=

9. To disclose federal data mining to Congress.
This vote was to require 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

10. To disclose electronic surveillance to courts.
This would require police to report to a court within 15 days of using the roving aspect of a warrant. It also would require them to report on the total number of electronic surveillances that have been conducted.
July 2005
Score: Yes=, No=X

11. To prohibit Internet gambling.
This initiative would single out Internet gambling for prohibition while not affecting in-person gambling.
July 2006
Score: Yes=X, No=

12. For the Deleting Online Predators Act.
This bill was written so broadly that it would restrict Amazon.com, Slashdot, and other sites that allow profiles to be posted from being visited by computers at many U.S. schools and libraries.
July 2006
Score: Yes=X, No=

13. For the Schiff amendment to an intelligence bill.
The amendment would make the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act the only mechanism for domestic electronic surveillance when used for intelligence-gathering purposes.
May 2007
Score: Yes=, No=X

14. For the Spy Act.
This highly regulatory bill was opposed by the American Bankers Association, the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the Information Technology Association of America, and NetCoalition (which counts Yahoo, Google, and CNET News' parent company as members).
June 2007
Score: Yes=X, No=

15. For the Internet Tax Freedom Amendments Act.
This bill was to renew, for another four years, a moratorium on local governments levying "discriminatory" taxes on Internet connections, including access through DSL, cable modem, and some wireless services.
October 2007
Score: Yes=, No=X

16. For the Free Flow of Information Act.
This was a shield law for journalists, including online reporters and bloggers who make a "substantial" portion of their livelihood through their work.
October 2007
Score: Yes=, No=X

17. For a FISA bill with retroactive immunity.
This vote was intended to derail lawsuits against telecommunications companies that violated federal law by illegally opening their networks to the National Security Agency.
June 2008
Score: Yes=X, No=

18. For the Electronic Message Preservation Act.
This would require national archivists to create standards for executive branch records stored in electronic form, including "controls necessary to ensure that electronic messages are readily accessible for retrieval through electronic searches."
July 2008
Score: Yes=, No=X