Shapiro Presses Trump/Pence GOP Ticket to Release Tech Agenda

CTA President Gary Shapiro urged Donald Trump, presumptive GOP nominee, and his newly selected choice for vice president, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, to release a tech agenda. “The tech industry hopes that in the coming days, the Trump-Pence campaign will provide clarity on where it stands on trade and when we can expect a detailed and substantive agenda that specifically outlines its positions on technology and innovation issues,” Shapiro said Friday. CTA hopes Pence “will shape Donald Trump's tech agenda and share his strong advocacy for the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” he said. Earlier last week, Pence unveiled an Indiana tech fund (see 1607150043). “Indiana has twice earned top-tier status as an Innovation Champion in both of CTA's Innovation Scorecards, an annual innovation policy performance index," said Shapiro. "Gov. Pence legalized ridesharing statewide in 2015 and grew Indiana's technology sector by providing local and state tax revenue reinvestment for taking part in the creation of two dozen tech hubs. Although Gov. Pence supported laws allowing businesses to discriminate against the LGBT community, he listened to the tech community's concerns and amended the law.” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said he expects Trump to release such an agenda by the fall debates (see 1606290073). Pence is a former House lawmaker and sponsored the Broadcaster Freedom Act in multiple sessions of Congress. It would have forbidden the FCC from reviving the Fairness Doctrine.