Where Do McCain and Obama Stand on Tech? - Page 4

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Technology in government

Both candidates acknowledge that government agencies haven't deployed technology as effectively as they could. Web sites are difficult to navigate and important information is often unavailable. Agencies often run legacy systems and are slow to adopt new technologies.

McCain pledges that the government will lead by example on the technology front.

"Government services should be available online and government can better serve the American people by operating more efficiently through the use of technology, including videoconferencing and collaborative networks," his tech policy says.

McCain also vows to bring "talented men and women of science into the federal government," and promises that the people he appoints to government positions will have experience in science and technology.

Obama goes a step further, promising to create a new position for a cabinet-level CTO who would coordinate the technology initiatives across the various agencies and spearhead efforts to bring more transparency to government activities by putting more information online.

Green technology

Both candidates believe that green technology offers a remedy for the energy, environmental and economic crises.

McCain supports the development of nuclear energy, with the goal of creating 45 plants by 2030, and working toward the ultimate goal of 100.

In the meantime, he proposes an annual government investment of $2 billion to develop clean coal technologies, and plans a $300 million prize for the development of a new battery technology that could power a plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicles. McCain also calls on automakers to move more aggressively on their commitment to make 50 percent of their new cars flex-fuel vehicles by 2012.

Obama pledges to invest $150 billion in developing clean energy over the next 10 years, a stimulus that he hopes will result in the creation of 5 million new jobs. In that same time period, Obama hopes to end oil imports from the Middle East and Venezuela while steadily increasing fuel-economy standards and offering a tax credit for individuals who purchase energy-efficient cars.

McCain offers a $5,000 tax credit for anyone who buys a zero-carbon-emissions car.

Both candidates favor a cap-and-trade system that would allot companies a certain number of permits for greenhouse gas emissions. Every unused permit could be sold for cash, thereby creating an incentive for companies to go green.

McCain set a timetable that by 2050 would see greenhouse gas emissions reduced to 66 percent below their 2005 levels. Obama has a similar timetable, which would cut emissions by 80 percent by 2050.