Technology voter guide 2008 - Senate methodology

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A signifies a tech-friendly vote; an X means a tech-unfriendly vote.

For an overview of Senate 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 the Communications Decency Act.
The U.S. Supreme Court gutted this unconstitutional measure on grounds that it violated Americans' free-expression rights protected by the First Amendment.
June 1995
How we scored it: Yes=X, No=

2. For the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Section 1201 of this 1998 law imposed "anti-circumvention" restrictions on computer science researchers and created a chilling effect. It is, however, still backed by many software and video game companies.
May 1998
How we scored it: Yes=X, No=

3. To prohibit Internet gambling.
This said that, with a few exceptions designed to benefit favored industries such as horse racing, "it shall be unlawful for a person knowingly to use the Internet or any other interactive computer service to place, receive, or otherwise make a bet or wager with any person."
July 1998
How we scored it: Yes=X, No=

4. To increase paperwork for Internet sellers .
This amendment said anyone selling something on the Internet, including eBay sellers, must complete additional paperwork or be fined by the federal government. It added restrictions that did not exist for people selling items through newspapers, garage sales, or magazines.
October 1998
How we scored it: Yes=X, No=

5. For more e-commerce restrictions.
This was a vote to table (that is, postpone discussion of) an amendment that would impose restrictions on the online sale of firearms, singling out the Internet but not telephone, newspaper classified ads, or in-person purchases.
May 1999
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

6. For Internet filters in schools and libraries.
The subsequent law, narrowly upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, said libraries and schools receiving federal funding must filter the Internet. Adults seeking unfiltered connections have to ask permission.
June 2000
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

7. To make the ban on Net access taxes permanent.
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 2001
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

8. Against taxing purchases made online.
This vote was to postpone discussion of an amendment designed to let a minority of state governments force other states to let online and mail order purchases be taxed (when they currently are not).
November 2001
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

9. For a free-trade bill.
This bill contained "Trade Promotion Authority" for the president, which benefits free trade and is backed by technology firms.
August 2002
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

10. To extend the ban on Internet access taxes through 2007.
In both the Senate and the House of Representatives, we gave high marks to politicians who voted for a moratorium on Internet access taxes.
April 2004
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

11. For an R&D 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
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

12. 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." The Real ID bill was subject to a specific note in the House, but in the Senate, it was part of a broader "emergency" supplemental funding bill.
May 2005
How we scored it: Yes=X, No=

13. To lift H-1B visa limits to 115,000 for 2008.
This included a one-time H-1B visa increase of 115,000 for fiscal year 2008 only. These are generally temporary work permits for foreigners in "specialty occupations" with the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.
July 2007
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

14. For the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.
The agreement includes reductions of tariffs between the two countries. Free trade and market access are what made trade organizations such as the Computer and Communications Industry Association support this legislation.
December 2007
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

15. To limit courtroom use of information obtained from unlawful wiretaps.
This would place restrictions on courtroom use of information relating to "U.S. persons" gathered through electronic surveillance.
February 2008
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

16. To strip retroactive immunity from the FISA bill.
This was a vote to remove from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill a section providing retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that violated federal law by illegally opening their networks to the National Security Agency.
July 2008
How we scored it: Yes=, No=X

17. For final passage of a FISA bill including retroactive immunity.
This was a vote for the overall Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill, which included a section that extended retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that violated federal law by illegally opening their networks to the National Security Agency.
July 2008
How we scored it: Yes=X, No=