WASHINGTON — Voters this month returned to office nearly all of the high-tech enthusiasts on Capitol Hill, sparking predictions that Congress will continue its support for the booming technology industry.
In an election that will influence such issues as e-mail spam and cyberporn in 1999 and beyond, voters appeared satisfied with the government's mostly non-regulatory approach to the Internet, computers and telecommunications. Or at least not unhappy enough to throw the incumbents out.
High technology, of course, can hardly be viewed as a political litmus test in a nation where voters are more preoccupied with education, taxes and health care. But of the 10 federal lawmakers identified by Internet publisher ZDNet as the "most tech-savvy," all but one were returned to office. House Internet Caucus founder Rep. Rick White (R-Wash.) was the exception, but he was defeated mostly for supporting an impeachment inquiry of President Clinton and other non-technology issues.
"Voters expect politicians to be enlightened about technology policy, [but supporting] the Internet can't save you [from voter wrath] all by itself," said Greg Simon, the former domestic policy advisor for Vice President Al Gore who now runs his own high-tech consulting firm.
While most congressional technology boosters stayed in office, House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) gave up the speakership and announced he will retire. Clinton's technology policy czar, Ira Magaziner, also plans to leave.
In addition, five of the 21 state attorneys general participating in the Justice Department's antitrust suit against Microsoft left office. And two others could be replaced: Republican Dennis C. Vacco, who is in a runoff with challenger Eliott L. Spitzer in New York, and District of Columbia Corporation Counsel John M. Ferren, who will be serving under a new mayor.
Although the overall political climate for technology aficionados was little changed, the elections produced some wrinkles that could affect technology companies as lawmakers gear up to address online privacy and high-speed Internet access, among other issues.
In the wake of exit polls that showed strong support for education issues, some experts believe the election may increase political backing for the federal government's $10-billion initiative to wire libraries and schools for Internet access, for example.
