From Deseret News archives:
Tech industry doesn't play political favorites
Though Republicans control Congress and the White House, their majorities are too slim to make it wise for high-tech to throw all its support behind them, industry lobbyists say.
In addition, many issues important to the information technology industry — trade, intellectual-property rights, stock-option expensing, broadband, education — cross party lines.
"There's almost never an issue where the IT industry comes in and says the Democrats are right and the Republicans are wrong, or vice versa," said Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America.
"That doesn't make either party very happy. Both sides work very hard to try to convince me, to convince us, to convince our members, that they're the right party for the Internet age," Miller said.
From January through June, individuals and political action committees in high-tech gave at least $1.8 million to Republicans and $1.6 million to Democrats on the federal level. That's according to figures compiled by two groups that track campaign finance, the Center for Responsive Politics and PoliticalMoneyLine.
During the same period in the 2001-02 election cycle, before companies themselves were banned from contributing, those involved in high-tech gave at least $3.2 million to Republicans and $2.8 million to Democrats.
Further illustrating the divided leanings, venture capitalist John Doerr, co-founder of group of high-tech executives that throws fund-raisers, has endorsed Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut in the presidential race. Fellow TechNet founder E. Floyd Kvamme backs President Bush, who has named Kvamme by him to a technology advisory council.
Cisco Systems chief executive John Chambers is a staunch GOP donor. Propel Software CEO Steve Kirsch is a prolific Democratic giver.
"We have no intention of losing our bipartisan status," said Donnie Fowler, vice president of Democratic outreach for TechNet, which also has a GOP wing. "Candidates of both parties are coming through Silicon Valley, so that must mean they both feel like they can get activists to participate in their campaigns, to give money."
Kirsch said visits are steady despite an industry downturn that may mean less political money.
"I think there's less, that people are more reluctant to donate money, just because they're feeling their net worth being squeezed," Kirsch said.
