CRAPO: HIGH TECH JOBS DEPEND ON TAX, TRADE POLICY

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined fellow members of the U.S. Senate's Republican High Tech Task Force today in announcing the group's agenda for the 110th Congress. During a news conference on Capitol Hill, Crapo outlined policy initiatives including the promotion of broadband technology and tax reform. He also applauded the leadership of Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon), the chairman of the task force."High tech is growing," Crapo said. "For example, my state's largest private employer is Micron Technology, and there are thousands of jobs in Idaho as a result of the work of literally hundreds of high tech companies. But to maintain that growth, we must maintain the favorable tax, investment and trade policies that allow technology companies to flourish and hire new workers. The policy goals of the High Tech Task Force match those needs and will keep high tech growing in Idaho and nationally."Crapo, who is a member of the Senate Finance and Banking committees with jurisdiction over tax and trade issues, noted the top priorities for the Republican High Tech Task Force include making a moratorium on Internet taxes permanent, promoting a permanent tax credit for tech research and development, repealing the federal excise tax on telecommunications services and accelerating depreciation schedules for technology and broadband equipment. He said the policy agenda for the High Tech Task Force in the 110th Congress can be found on his website at http://crapo.senate.gov.