Edwards details a science, tech agenda during California visit
August 08, 2007
May Wong, Associated Press Writer
Presidential contender John Edwards promised to keep political ideology out of science as he outlined Wednesday a technology agenda to promote innovation.
At a speech in Silicon Valley, a region he considers the world's epicenter of innovation, the Democratic former North Carolina senator said he would work to reverse the Bush administration's politically driven policies, which he thinks have hampered America's competitive edge in the global economy.
From imposing limits on stem cell research to overriding agencies' scientific findings, Bush presides over "the most anti-science administration ever," Edwards said before some 200 members of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The trade group, which represents the region's employers, recently hosted other events where political opponents Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. John McCain similarly emphasized their commitments to foster technological innovation.
"We must respect science, and we must let science take us to where we want to go," Edwards said.
Under his plan, Edwards said he would:
— Insulate scientific research from politics by eliminating political litmus tests for government scientists.
— Make permanent the research and development tax credit.
— Increase funding and lift "stifling research restrictions" for the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.
— Modernize the nation's 50-year-old patent laws
— Start a "New Energy Economy" Fund that would invest in clean, renewable energy products and technologies and create 1 million jobs.
— Institute a national policy to bring broadband Internet service to all U.S. homes and businesses by 2010.
— Improve science and math education by investing more in teacher pay and training and providing one year of public college tuition for more than 2 million students.
The Democrat also reiterated his plans for a universal health care system and his support for so-called H1B visas for educated workers—an immigration program that Silicon Valley companies rely heavily on to sponsor thousands of software engineers from Russia, India, China and other countries.
