Over the weekend, Utah tech mogul Josh James published an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune praising Senator Hatch’s leadership on tech issues. He wrote
As chairman of both the Finance Committee and the Republican High-Tech Task Force, Hatch is uniquely positioned to influence legislation on a wide range of issues important to America's tech community. Using these platforms, Hatch has not only fought to bolster our nation's economic competitiveness; he has also championed an innovation agenda that puts the needs of Utah's more than 4,000 tech companies front and center.
He also wrote about the importance of Hatch’s continued leadership.
Fortunately for Utah and the technology industry at large, we have Orrin Hatch representing us in Washington, D.C. His experience, work ethic and tech savvy are unmatched. As we prepare for the inaugural Silicon Slopes Tech Summit (Jan. 19 and 20) in Salt Lake City, his role in helping build a thriving tech community is greatly appreciated. I don't know if he plans to run for another term, but I certainly hope he will consider it. If he does, he'll surely have my vote. We're on a roll after all — and we need Senator Hatch's continued leadership.
Op-ed: Utah’s Silicon Slopes owe a lot to Hatch’s support
By Josh James, Founder and CEO of Domo
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4777123-155/op-ed-utahs-silicon-slopes-owe-a
As a young and first-time CEO at Omniture, I once received a special visit from one of Utah's leading public servants. Although dressed more conservatively than the hoodie-clad developers outside my office, this visitor was no stranger to the world of tech. He spoke with remarkable fluency about complex issues facing the software industry, demonstrating an energy and expertise that belied his age. Together, we discussed tech policy and the future of innovation in Utah. Near the end of our conversation, he put his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes promising to do everything he could to help companies like mine succeed.
Since the day we met, Sen. Orrin Hatch has kept his promise and, despite the demands of Washington, he has continued to make himself extremely accessible to listen to the needs of my business and industry. Many of my Utah colleagues would agree that no one in Washington has been more instrumental to the success of Silicon Slopes.
As chairman of both the Finance Committee and the Republican High-Tech Task Force, Hatch is uniquely positioned to influence legislation on a wide range of issues important to America's tech community. Using these platforms, Hatch has not only fought to bolster our nation's economic competitiveness; he has also championed an innovation agenda that puts the needs of Utah's more than 4,000 tech companies front and center.
Consider what Hatch accomplished in the past year alone to strengthen our state's tech ecosystem:
• He spearheaded passage of the Defend Trade Secrets Act — a bipartisan bill that has been widely hailed as the most significant intellectual property reform in years. This legislation strengthens legal protections for companies like Domo that depend on trade secrets to develop new products and remain competitive.
He brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to pass a common-sense proposal that strengthens privacy in the digital age and promotes trust in U.S. technologies abroad. Hatch's legislation is a significant boon to Utah cloud computing companies that depend on the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement for cross-border data flows.
He also introduced a key proposal to reform our nation's outdated immigration laws to ensure that high-skilled foreigners who study at our universities and who want to contribute to our economy can stay here once they graduate. Tech executives across the state — and across the country — support Hatch's bill because it helps meet the growing demand for professionals who have special training in science, technology, engineering and math.
These are just a few of Hatch's legislative achievements in Congress. Add to this his efforts to combat patent trolls, promote trade legislation and strengthen America's competitive workforce. On these and so many other issues of critical importance to our state's and nation's tech industry, Hatch is again out front.
For over a decade now, he has helped put Utah on the map by bringing technology's most influential CEOs to Utah. Marc Benioff of Salesforce, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Mark Hurd of H-P, Shantanu Narayen of Adobe, Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn, and most recently Tim Cook of Apple, have all found time to join Utah's tech community at annual Utah Tech Council Hall of Fame events in Salt Lake City. Over the years, I've asked each CEO why they came, and without fail, they each said it was because of Hatch.
Fortunately for Utah and the technology industry at large, we have Orrin Hatch representing us in Washington, D.C. His experience, work ethic and tech savvy are unmatched. As we prepare for the inaugural Silicon Slopes Tech Summit (Jan. 19 and 20) in Salt Lake City, his role in helping build a thriving tech community is greatly appreciated. I don't know if he plans to run for another term, but I certainly hope he will consider it. If he does, he'll surely have my vote. We're on a roll after all — and we need Senator Hatch's continued leadership.
Josh James is founder and CEO of Domo, a business management software developer in American Fork.
Hatch could be unlikely tech ally in Trump administration
By Ashley Gold
The youth-obsessed tech industry may have an unlikely ally in Donald Trump’s Washington: octogenarian Sen. Orrin Hatch.
The Utah Republican, 82, says he stands ready to advance issues like encryption and increasing the amount of visas for the high-skilled workers that help power places like Silicon Valley and Utah’s own “Silicon Slopes.”
His stance on those two issues so key to technology types will make him an especially important figure if Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) — who has differed with Hatch on both issues — is confirmed as attorney general. Sessions is the nominee of Trump, who has at times disparaged tech companies and their leaders.
The technology industry tends to be Democratically aligned — advocating strong privacy and consumer protection, more visas for high-skilled foreign workers and welcoming innovation-friendly attitudes from Washington. It stands to lose in the Trump administration after fawning attention under President Barack Obama. Hatch could mitigate this divide with his affinity for cutting-edge technology, encrypted communications and bringing the world's brightest to the U.S. to work at companies like Apple.
Hatch, chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, says he's had conversations with the president elect and his team about a number of high-tech priorities. “I’m confident we’re gonna work well together,” he said in an interview. Trump “wants to strengthen the economy and of course help America lead in this world of innovation. I share those same priorities, so hopefully we will be able to get a lot done. We’re going to try.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook is a believer. “Let me just say that I've had the pleasure of-of knowing Sen. Hatch for several years now,” Cook, in a rare public appearance, said at Hatch's Utah Tech Tour last fall. “We are all better off because of his hard work, whether it's on tax reform, or encryption, or intellectual property protection. He does great work for the people of Utah and for America.”
Hatch took Apple’s side in favor of encryption after the San Bernardino massacre in December 2015 that killed 14 people, leading the FBI to demand access to the shooter’s iPhone to look for evidence. Hatch argued that the tech giant had the right to keep its customers’ encrypted phone data private even as other lawmakers — on both sides of the aisle — and the FBI argued that Apple should unlock gunman Syed Farook’s phone in the name of national security. The FBI says the data found on the phone, which Apple never did unlock, didn't generate leads pertinent to the investigation.
Hatch also invited Ted Olson, Apple’s lawyer during the San Bernardino litigation, to Capitol Hill to speak with senators about encryption as the issue percolated.
He's shown his support for his colleague Sessions, despite possible differences. In December, the pair met in the Capitol for a lengthy discussion, but Hatch said following the meeting that encryption and immigration, didn't come up.
“There’s a difference between being attorney general and being a sitting U.S. senator, and I’m not sure what his jurisdiction would be in this area anyway,” he said in the interview before meeting with Sessions. “Jeff and I have always gotten along well, and I think he’s got to look a little broader than being in the Senate, and I think Trump certainly looks a little broader. We’ll see.”
Soon after their meeting, Hatch delivered a lengthy address on the Senate floor advocating for Sessions' quick confirmation.
Hatch also has the ear of Trump himself. He said he hasn’t made any specific asks of the president-elect, but he’s primed to have the president-elect’s ear on tech issues.
“I’ve had conversations with the president-elect and his team about a number of high tech priorities,” he said. “I am there to support him, and I hope that he will reciprocate and support some of these things that I think are prime to be resolved.”
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