Political Quotes

“I rise today to ask for bipartisan support for the Data Act, and let me tell my colleagues why. Over 100 million Americans today are on line using the Internet. Seven Americans go on line every second for the first time. There is great opportunity, whether in e-commerce or the technology sector, for millions of Americans. But millions of Americans are not participating, and that is called the digital divide. I am pleased the private sector has stepped forward to address the so-called digital divide, because educators tell us they notice a difference in the classroom between children who have a computer at home and those who do not in their being able to do their homework and compete in the class. Ford, Intel, Delta and American Airlines have announced plans to provide 600,000 families computers and Internet access. Think about that. The janitor, the laborer, the assembly line worker, the baggage handler, their children having computers and Internet access just like the CEO's kids. That is a great opportunity. But here is the hitch. The IRS wants to tax it. That is right, the IRS wants to tax those workers who accept those computers. For a worker making $27,000 a year that is $200 in taxes they would have to pay. We have a solution, the Data Act, legislation making sure that these employer-provided computers and Internet access are tax exempt for the workers. It is called the Data Act. I would ask for bipartisan support.”