The Political Bridge

DCCCChairmanChrisVanHollenCondemnsRushLimbaugh'sOutrageousCommentthatSoldiersWhoSupportWithdrawingFromIraqAre"PhonySoldiers"

DCCCChairmanChrisVanHollen:

RushLimbaugh'spersonalattackonourmenandwomeninuniformisreprehensible.ItminimizesthesacrificeourtroopsinIraqandtheirfamiliesaremakingandhasnoplaceinthepublicdiscourse.RushLimbaughowesourmilitaryandtheirfamiliesanapologyforhishurtfulcommentsthatminimizetheirservicetoourcountry.

Excerptof"TheRushLimbaughShow"(September26,2007,PremiereRadioNetworks):

LIMBAUGH:"Savethe--keepthetroopssafe"orwhatever.I--it'snotpossible,intellectually,tofollowthesepeople.

CALLER:No,it'snot,andwhat'sreallyfunnyis,theynevertalktorealsoldiers.Theyliketopullthesesoldiersthatcomeupoutoftheblueandtalktothemedia.

LIMBAUGH:Thephonysoldiers.

CALLER:Thephonysoldiers.Ifyoutalktoarealsoldier,theyareproudtoserve.TheywanttobeoverinIraq.Theyunderstandtheirsacrifice,andthey'rewillingtosacrificefortheircountry.

LIMBAUGH:TheyjoinedtobeinIraq.Theyjoined--

CALLER:Alotofthem--thenewkids,yeah.

LIMBAUGH:Well,youknowwhereyou'regoingthesedays,thelastfouryears,ifyousignedup.Theoddsareyou'regoingthereorAfghanistanorsomewhere.

--DCCC-BrandonEnglish;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

DemocraticSenateLeadersCallLimbaugh’sComment“PhonySoldiers”anOutrageandanAffronttoOurSoldiers

Atthetimewesignthisletter,3,801AmericansoldiershavebeenkilledinIraq,andanother27,936havebeenwounded.160,000othersawokethismorningonforeignsand,farfromhome,tofacethedangeranduncertaintyofanotherdayatwar.

AlthoughAmericansofgoodwilldebatethemeritsofthiswar,wecanallagreethatthosewhoservewithsuchgreatcouragedeserveourdeepestrespectandgratitude.ThatiswhyRushLimbaugh’srecentcharacterizationoftroopswhoopposethewaras“phonysoldiers”issuchanoutrage.

Ourtroopsarefightinganddyingtobringtoothersthefreedomsthatmanytakeforgranted.ItisunconscionablethatMr.LimbaughwouldcriticizethemforexercisingthefundamentallyAmericanrighttofreespeech.Mr.Limbaughhasmadeoutrageousremarksbefore,butthisaffronttooursoldiersisbeyondthepale.

Themilitary,likeanycommunitywithintheUnitedStates,includesmembersbothforandagainstthewar.Seniorgenerals,suchasGeneralJohnBatisteandPaulEaton,havecomeoutagainstthewarwhileothershavepubliclysupportedit.ADecember2006pollconductedbytheMilitaryTimesfoundjust35percentofservicemembersapprovedofPresidentBush’shandlingofthewarinIraq,comparedto42percentwhodisapproved.Fromthisfigurealone,itisclearthatMr.Limbaugh’sinsultisdirectedatthousandsofAmericanservicemembers.

Activeandretiredmembersofourarmedforceshaveauniqueperspectiveonthewarandofferavaluablecontributiontoournationaldebate.InAugust,sevensoldierswroteanop-edexpressingtheirconcernwiththecurrentstrategyinIraq.Tragically,sincethen,twoofthosesevensoldiershavemadetheultimatesacrificeinIraq.

ThousandsofactivetroopsandveteransweresubjectedtoMr.Limbaugh’sunpatrioticandindefensiblecommentsonyourbroadcast.Wetrustyouwillagreethatnotasingleoneofoursons,daughters,neighborsandfriendsservingoverseasisa“phonysoldier.”WecallonyoutopubliclyrepudiatethesecommentsthatcallintoquestiontheirserviceandsacrificeandtoaskMr.Limbaughtoapologizeforhiscomments.

SenatorHarryReid
MajorityLeader

SenatorRichardDurbin
AssistantMajorityLeader

SenatorCharlesSchumer
ViceChairman
DemocraticConference

SenatorPattyMurray
Secretary
DemocraticConference

--CourtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

Revealed:Sen.JimBunningPutSecretHoldOnPresidentialRecordsAmendment

Lastweek,ThinkProgressnotedthatananonymoussenatorhadplacedaholdonabillthatwouldrestorepublicaccesstoPresidentialrecords,whichPresidentBushhadsealedindefinitelywithanexecutiveorderin2001.

Sen.TomCoburn(R-OK)wasoriginallysuspectedofbeingthesenatorbehindthesecretholduntilamemberofhisstaffcontactedThinkProgressto"statefortherecordthat"Sen.Coburn"isnotholdingthisbillrelatedtopresidentialrecords ":

TheofficeofSen.TomCoburnwouldliketostatefortherecordthatheisnotholdingthisbillrelatedtopresidentialrecords.ItistruethatheplacedaholdonthebillfollowingitspassagethroughtheHomelandSecurityandGovernmentalAffairsCommitteeinJune,buthassinceworkedouthisminorconcernwiththeofficeofSen.JosephLiebermanatwhichtimeheliftedhishold.

WithCoburnoutoftherunning,themysteryofwhowasattemptingtoblockpublicaccesstoPresidentialrecordscontinued.Butnow,theSunlightFoundationhasrevealedthatthesenatorialhandbehindthesecretholdisSen.JimBunning(R-KY):

SenatorJimBunning(R-KY)nowhasanobjectiontomovingforwardwithHR1255,thePresidentialRecordsActAmendmentsof2007.ThebillwouldoverturnanoutrageousExecutiveOrderthatwouldkeeppresidentialrecordshiddenfrompublicviewindefinitely.[...]

Now,whetherornothehashadtheholdallalong,SenatorBunninghasbeenforcedtotakeresponsibilityfortheobjection.Thatmakesushappy.

TellBunningtoletthebillcometoavotehereorcallhisofficeat202-224-4343.

--http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/27/bunning-secret-hold/,courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

AFL-CIOKYUnionVolunteersWalkAcrosstheStateonSaturdaytoElectWorkingFamilyCandidates

Saturday’swalkisthefirststatewidewalk,whichwillcontinuethroughtheelection

ThisSaturday,September29th,hundredsofunionvolunteerswillwalkacrossthestateinamassiveefforttoelectworkingfamilycandidates.ThisSaturdaymarksthefirstdaythatunionvolunteerswillspanout
acrossthestatetofightforcandidateswhowillstandforgoodjobs,accesstoqualityhealthcare,andtherighttojoinandformaunion.WalkswilltakeplaceinLexington,Louisville,Paducah,Owensboro,and
Pikeville.

"ThisweekmarksthefirstweekthatunionvolunteersacrossthestateofKentuckyarespendingtheirweekendwalkingtochangeourelectedleaders,"saidKYAFL-CIOPresidentBillLondrigan."Neverbeforehaveweseensuchenthusiasmbyunionvoterstoelectleaderswhosupportgoodjobs,accesstoqualityhealthcare,retirementsecurity,andthefreedomtoformandjoinunionstobargainforabetterlife."

WorkingfamiliesoftheAFL-CIOareturningoutatworksites,inneighborhoods,andonthephonesinamassivegrassrootsefforttogetoutthevote.Themember-to-memberwalksareakeypartoftheprogram,
whichwillmobilizecloseto350,000votersinthe2007election.FromnowthroughNovember,workingfamiliesacrossKentuckywillknockonthousandsofdoorsinanunprecedentedefforttofightforworking
familycandidatesinthe2007election. LastSaturdayinLouisvillealone,419peoplewalkeddoortodoor,speakingtomorethan7,000people.

WHO: HundredsofAFL-CIOKentuckyworkingfamiliesandunionmembers
WHAT:LaunchoftheKentuckyAFL-CIOpoliticalmobilizationandneighborhoodwalk
WHEN:Saturday,September29that9a.m.

WHERE:AcrossKentuckyinlocationsincluding:

WesternKentuckyCLC,1202S.4thSt,Paducah,KY42001

IBEWLocal 1701
2911W.ParrishAve. 
Owensboro,KY 42301

UAWLocal862
3000FernValleyRoad
Louisville,KY,40213
 
LIUNALocal189     
2631WilhiteDrive,
Lexington,KY, 40503

UMWADistrict17     
444TownMountainRd.
Pikeville,KY 41501              

Contact:AlisonOmens202-637-5018
RacheleHuennekens703-470-2454

--AFL-CIO,courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

EveryVoteCounts!October9isDeadlinetoRegister!

DearFriend:

        AsElectionDayapproacheswewanttomakesurethateveryKentuckianhastheopportunitytovote.Itisveryimportantthateveryoneexercisesthisright.Don'tassumeyourneighborsorfriends
willcastenoughballotsthatyourswon'treallymatter--EVERYVOTECOUNTS! SteveBeshearandDanielMongiardoarecountingonYOU.

        Also,ifyouhavefriendsthatarenotregistered,pleaseencouragethemtovisittheircountyclerk'sofficeandgetonthevoterrolls.

        EveryonemustberegisteredbyOctober9inordertovoteonNovember6.Ifyouhavemovedandnotre-registeredtovotebesuretochangeyourregistrationsoyoucanvoteintheproperprecinct!

        Belowaresometipsandlinkstohelpmakeregistrationeasier.

        Ifyouhaveforgottenwhereyourprecinctpollingplace,orhaveforgottenwhereyouareregisteredcheckthiswebsite:https://cdcbp.ky.gov/VICWeb/index.jsp

        Ifyouneedtoregisterorre-registergotothissitefora
voterregistrationcard:http://www.elect.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/C4DBB006-4E58-402C-873C-532563A53AA6
/0/registrationcard.pdf

        TofindyourCountyClerk'sofficeclickhereforalistingofallclerksinKentucky:http://elect.ky.gov/countyclerks.htm

        Mostimportantly,ifyouwillbeoutoftownonElectionDay,orareunabletomakeittothepolls,pleasegohereformoreinformationonabsenteevoting:http://www.elect.ky.gov/registrationinfo/absenteeballot.htm

        Remember,SteveandDaniel,andallofourDemocraticcandidatesneedyourvoteon

November6.Thankyou!


        Sincerely,

        VickiGlass
        DirectorofCommunications
        Beshear/Mongiardo2007

--Beshear/MongiardoCampaign,courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor
      

StateAuditorCritLuallen,AProvenRecordofHonesty,IntegrityandVision

DearDemocraticFriends,

DemocratsknowCritLuallen,ourDemocraticnomineeforStateAuditorofPublicAccounts,well.SheisthesoleincumbentrunningforreelectionontheDemocraticticketandtheonlyincumbentontheballotwithaprovenrecordofhonesty,integrityandvision.

Critwillbeastrong,independentwatchdogofthepublic'smoney,whichiswhywemustworktoensuresheisreelectedonNovember6th!

InthepastfouryearsunderCrit'sleadership,theAuditor'sOfficehasmaderecommendationsthathavesavedthestateover$130millionandhasuncovered$17millioninquestionableexpenditureofyourtaxdollars.

Crit'soutstandingperformanceasStateAuditorishermostrecentdemonstrationofalifededicatedtopublicservice.AFrankfortnativeandCentreCollegegraduate,Crit'spublicservicebeganin1974asacampaignstaffmembertoWendellFordandculminatedinhernearlysevenyearsasSecretaryoftheGovernor'sExecutiveCabinet,thenthehighestappointedpositioninstategovernment. AsSecretaryoftheExecutiveCabinet,CritwasthechiefoperatingofficerofKentucky,withresponsibilityforover35,000full–timeemployeesandabudgetof$17billiondollars.

ShealsoservedasStateBudgetDirector,SecretaryoftheFinanceandAdministrationCabinet,SecretaryoftheKentuckyTourismCabinet,CommissioneroftheKentuckyDepartmentoftheArts,andSpecialAssistanttotheGovernor.CritalsospentfouryearsinLouisvilleandservedasPresidentoftheGreaterLouisvilleEconomicDevelopmentPartnership,aregionaleconomicdevelopmentagency.

CritLuallenisanessentialpartoftheDemocraticteam.Workingtogether,wewillspendthenext41daysfightingtobringpositiveleadershiptoFrankfortonNovember6th!

OnElectionDay,pleasegoandvotefortheentireDemocraticticket!Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupport.

Sincerely,

JonathanMiller
Chair,KentuckyDemocraticParty

--CourtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

AFL-CIOAdoptsFar-ReachingPoliticalMobilization,LargestEver

UnionVoterstobeKeyinCreating‘HistoricPoliticalRealignment’in2008Elections

TheAFL-CIOwillactivatemorevolunteers,dedicatemoreresourcesandmobilizemorevotersthaneverbeforetoelectapresidentandcandidatesupanddowntheballotwhowillchampionworkers’issues,thefederation’sExecutiveCouncildecidedatameetingtodayinWashington. TheCouncilalsounanimouslyvotedtonameArleneHolt-BakertotheofficeofExecutiveVicePresident,makingherthefirstAfrican-AmericanelectedasoneofthetopthreeofficesoftheAFL-CIO. Holt-BakerwillserveoutthetermofLindaChavez-Thompson,whoannouncedherretirementlastweek.Chavez-ThompsonhasbecomeExecutiveVicePresidentEmrita.Holt-Baker,whohasmorethan30yearsofexperienceinthelabormovement,mostrecentlyservedasSpecialAssistanttoAFL-CIOPresidentJohnSweeney. InthatcapacitysheledtheAFL-CIOgulfcoastrecoveryefforts.

TheExecutiveCouncilapprovedapoliticalbudgetofmorethan$53milliontoeducate,mobilizeandturnoutvotersthisyearandnext.Theresourceswillbespententirelyongrassrootsmobilizationthroughanambitious,sophisticatedpoliticalprogram. NoneofthemoneyapprovedbytheExecutiveCounciltodaygoesdirectlytocandidates.

“TodaytheAFL-CIOissendingapowerfulmessagethatwearegoingtochangethecourseofourcountryin2008byelectingapresidentandcandidatesatalllevelswhoarecommittedtorestoringthepromiseofAmericatoworkingpeople,”saidSweeney. “America’sworkersaremoreenergizedthaneverbefore. TheyaredeterminedtocreateanhistoricalpoliticalrealignmentinWashingtonthatwillworktorebuildourailingmiddleclassandrestorehopetothemillionsofworkerswhohavebeenleftbehindbysevenyearsofBushAdministrationcorporate-friendlypolicies.”TheAFL-CIOsaiditwouldactivateanddeploymorethan200,000volunteersin2008. Volunteerswillreachouttomembersandneighborsbygoingdoor-to-door,makingphonecalls,talkingtoco-workersattheirworksitesandcommunicatingonlinewithunionvotersabouttheissuesthey’reconcernedwith:healthcare,retirementsecurity,goodjobs,economicequality,tradepolicyandthefreedomtoformandjoinunions.

"Ourmembersarebuildinganarmytomakemorecalls,knockonmoredoorsandturnoutmorevotersthanever,”saidAFSCMEPresidentandAFL-CIOPoliticalCommitteeChairGeraldMcEntee. “We'regoingfortheTrifecta:theHouse,theSenate,andtheWhiteHouse.”

SweeneysaidtechnologicalandprogrammaticadvancesbytheAFL-CIOwillallowformoreefficientandeffectiveoutreachtounionvoters,ensuringtheyaregettingtheinformationtheyneedabouttheissuestheycareabout. ThenumberofunionvoterstheAFL-CIOwillreachisalsoexpectedtoincreasein2008. WorkingAmerica,acommunityaffiliateoftheAFL-CIO,planstoincreaseitsmembershipfrom1.6millionto2.5millionbynextsummer.In2006,theAFL-CIO’smassiveunionvotermobilizationprovedpivotaltoshiftingthebalanceofpowerinCongress. TheAFL-CIOmobilizedmorethan13.6millionvotersin32states.

Inadditiontoelectingapro-workerpresident,thefederationplanstohelpgainthreetosixpro-workerseatsintheSenateandaddfiveintheHousebyfocusingonracesinunion-densedistricts.AFL-CIOvoterswillalsoexpandtheranksofworker-friendlystatelegislatorsandgovernors.TheAFL-CIOhasidentified23prioritystatesforthe2008elections.Ohio,Pennsylvania,Minnesota,MichiganandWisconsinhavebeenidentifiedastop-tierstates.InOhioalone,theAFL-CIOwillreachouttomorethan1.4millionvoters,whichincludesmembersofWorkingAmerica.In2006,theunionvoteinOhiowas28percentoftheoverallvote.

“Allacrossthecountryunionvotersaregoingtomakethedifferenceinraceafterkeyrace,”AFL-CIOPoliticalDirectorKarenAckermansaid.“In2004,thepresidentialelectionhingedontheoutcomeinOhioandthatoutcomewentagainstus. ThemembersoftheAFL-CIOandourfamiliesaren’tabouttoletthathappenagain.We’regoingtoelectapresidentwhofightsforworkingpeoplebywinningOhioandotherstatesbecauseAmerica’sworkersarefedupwithaneconomythatnolongerworksforthem.”

InadditiontothebudgetfortheAFL-CIOmobilization,theunionsoftheAFL-CIOeachdevoteresourcestoelectingworking-familyfriendlycandidates. TheunionsoftheAFL-CIOwillcollectivelydedicateanestimated$200milliontothe2008electioneffort.

TheAFL-CIOhasnotendorsedacandidateforpresident.Whilesomeindividualunionshavemadeendorsements,theAFL-CIOmusthaveatwo-thirdsconsensusamongitsunions,weightedbymembership,toendorse.

AtthemeetingoftheExecutiveCouncil,theAFL-CIOalsoreleasedareportdetailingitsworkinorganizingandstrategicplanningforcontinuedgrowth. Overthepasttwoyears(2004through2006),10AFL-CIOaffiliateshavegrownbymorethan10percent. AFSCMEhadthelargestnetgaininthelabormovement,morethan120,000newmembers,accordingtothereport.ThereportisavailableuponrequestbycallingtheAFL-CIOMediaOutreachdepartmentat202-637-5018.

--AFL-CIO,courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

OverwhelmingNumberofKentuckiansDonotConsiderGamblingMorallyWrongSaysWHAS-TVPOLL

MarkHebert,WHAS-TV,reportsthattheWHAS-TVSurveyUSAPollisshowingthatanoverwhelmingpercentageofKentuckiansdonotconsidergamblingmorallywrong:“ThepollingdoneTuesday,shows36%ofKentuckiansthinkgamblingismorallywrongwhile59%sayit'snotmorallywrong.500adultsweresampledwitha4.4%marginoferror.ThemostsignificantbreakoutnumbersfromthepollshowwesternKentuckiansthinkgamblingISmorallywrongbya49%-45%margin.ThemajorityofrespondentsineveryotherareaofthestatedisagreewithfolksinnorthcentralKentuckysayinggamblingisNOTmorallywrongbya65%-29%margin.Herearetheotherinterestingnumbers:Morallywrong:Republicans53%-42%Conservatives60%-37%;Notmorallywrong:Democrats73%-24%Moderates65%-28%Age55+52-44%”

--MarkHebert,WHAS-TV,courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

HillaryClintonStatementOnTheAnniversaryoftheLittleRockNine

"WhatwesawhereinLittleRockintheFallof1957shockedusandchangedus.MothersandfathersacrossAmericasawinthoseninechildrenthevulnerabilityandpromiseoftheirownchildren.Theysawinthathatefulmobtheuglinessoftheirownprejudicesandfears.Andtheywereforcedtoaskthemselves:"IsthatwhoIam?Isthatwhoweare?"Thebravemenandwomenonthisstagepaidahighpricefortheanswerstothosequestions.Andweareallsogratefulfortheircourageandtheirsacrifice.

"Today,fiftyyearslater,Americaisstillstrugglingtofinishtheirwork.Wehaveseenschoolsre-segregatingandaSupremeCourtchippingawayatBrownv.BoardofEducation.WehaveseeninJena,Louisianaandelsewherethatthescalesofjusticeareseriouslyoutofbalance-anddiscriminationisadailyfactoflife.

"TheLittleRockNinedid-andcontinuetodo-theirpart,andnowitisourturn.Wemustensurethatoneday,theninestudentswehonortonightcantelltheirchildrenandgrandchildrenabouthowwefinallyovercame.HowwefinallycametogetheranddidwhatwasrightforAmerica.How,whileittookfartoolong-andcostsomanypeoplesomuch-wefinallyfinishedwhattheLittleRockNinestartedallthoseyearsago."

--HillaryClinton,courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

ANewFederalBroadbandPolicy

Intoday’sworldofYouTubevideosharing,onlineconferencing,animatedadvertisingandlightningfastmusicdownloads,it’seasytoforgetthatlessthanadecadeago,theInternetwasmainlyasourceoftextdata,andmanyofthepeoplewhouseditwerecontentwiththeconnectivityprovidedbydial-upconnections.Inlessthanadecade,theInternethasbecomeanessentialutilityinournation’seconomy,inthewaywecommunicateandthewayinwhichwedobusiness.

Nationwidedeploymentofhighspeed,always-onbroadbandInternetandmobilecommunicationswillfuelthedevelopmentofmillionsofnewjobsintheUnitedStates.Accordingtoa2002studybytheNewMillenniumResearchCouncil,widespreaddeploymentofhigh-speedInternetinfrastructurewillcreate1.2millionpermanentjobs.Thestudypredictedthat166,000ofthosejobswouldbeinthetelecommunicationsindustry,71,700inthemanufacturingsectorand974,000indirectjobs.

Broadbandisalsoadrivingforceforruraleconomicdevelopment,wherelimitedopportunitiesforceyoungpeopletoleavetheirhometownstoseekemploymentelsewhere.AccordingtotheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(USDA),ofthe65millionpeoplelivinginruralAmerica,only2millionareengageddirectlyintheproductionofagricultureandmanyfamilyfarmersrelyonoff-farmemploymenttosupplementtheirincome.

AccordingtoUSDA’sStrategicPlanforFY2005-2010,“thedevelopmentoftheInternet-basedeconomyprovidesuniqueopportunitiesforruralAmerica.Broadbandinfrastructuregreatlyhelpstomitigatethelimitationsonbusinessdevelopmentinruralareascausedbygeographicaldistanceandalimitedcustomerbase.”

Broadbandalsobringseducationalopportunitiestostudentswhodonotlivenearauniversityorwhoworkfull-timeandstillwanttoearnadegree.Manytwo-yearandfour-yearcollegesoffercoursesonline,completewithinteractionwiththeprofessorandampleacademicsupport,butinawaythataccommodatesthestudent’sschedule.BroadbandalsoopensupaworldofknowledgeandinformationwhetheritislearningabouttheworldthroughtheNationalGeographicwebsiteorbrowsingthecollectionattheMuseumofModernArt.

Advancesintechnologiesalsoimprovehealthcareforpeoplewhodonothaveaccesstospecialistsfortheirparticularillnessorcannotaffordtotravellongdistancesfordiagnosisandtreatment.Medicalcenterswiththelatesttechnologieshavetheresultsofapatient’sx-raysin15minutes,insteadoftheweek-longwaitthathadtobeenduredinthepast.InAlaska,manyofthesmallercommunitiesrelyuponbroadbandtechnologiestoimprovethequalityoftheirhealthcare.ThesheerdistancebetweentownsinAlaskacandelaylive-savingmedicalassistance,butthankstobroadband,specialistscaninreal-timeguidethelocalphysicianthroughdiagnosisandevensurgery.

Whilebroadbanddefinitelyprovidesbenefitstosociety,italsoisasourceofentertainmentandasourceofconnectionformanyAmericans.In15years,Internettrafficincreasedfromonepetabytepermonthtoonepetabyteperday,asmoreandmorepeoplebeganusingtheircomputerstowatchmoviesandtelevisionshows,sendvideostotheirfamilyandfriends,telecommuteandkeepintouch.

TheInternetandtheinfrastructurethatprovidesusaccesstoitisaseriesofinterconnected,privately-ownednetworksandeachyearcompaniescollectivelyspendbillionstoimproveandexpandthatinfrastructure.However,thedigitaldivideisrealinmanycommunitiesandwebelievethatthepolicy-makerscanfurtherencourageprivateinvestmentaswellasre-directingfederalresourcestocontinuetoclosethegap.

1.    Promotepartnershipsbetweenstategovernmentsandindustrytodevelopmappingprogramstoidentifytheavailabilityandgapsinbroadbandaccess.Public/privatepartnershipssuchasConnectKentuckyleveragenewtechnologiesandnetworkmappingdatatoacceleratebroadbandaccessforthepurposesofcommunityandeconomicdevelopment,improvinghealthcare,enhancingeducationandprovidingmoreeffectiveandefficientgovernmentservices.

2.    SupportTaxpoliciesthatencourageinvestmentandinnovationsuchasapermanentInternetTaxMoratorium,apermanentR&Dtaxcredit,acceleratedandrationalizeddepreciationschedulesfortechnologyandequipment,allowingcompaniestoexpensenewbroadbandinvestmentinthefirstyear,taxcreditsforespeciallyrobustnewnetworks.

3.    Requirethatallnewpublicly-financedaffordablehousingincludesbroadbandreadyinfrastructure.

Intheyearssinceitscreation,AmericanshavealreadyfarsurpassedtheoriginalintendedusesfortheInternet.Justastheinitialcreatorscouldnothaveenvisionedallthatbroadbandnowenables,fromvideosharingtoimprovedhealthcare,wecannotnowforeseetheendlesspossibilitiestheInternetstillhastooffer.Updatesintechnologyshouldbesupportedbyupdatedpolicydecisions;thosewhichencourageinvestmentinaninfrastructurethatwillensureweasacountrynotonlymaintaintheInternetwehavecometorelyon,butalsoallowittoflourish.