Rudy Giuliani Tells Northern Virginia Technology Council Audience that Government Must Take Greater Advantage of Technology to Be More Effective and Efficient
Giuliani Also Discusses His Positions on Immigration, Education and Taxes(HERNDON, VA, Sept. 21, 2007) - The Honorable Rudy Giuliani, a Republican candidate for President and former mayor of the City of New York, this morning told an audience of more than 730 business executives at the NVTC Presidential Series Breakfast that technology must be used to transform the federal government into an "information-based workforce," to reduce the size of the civilian government workforce and increase overall effectiveness and efficiency. During his keynote, Giuliani also outlined his positions on immigration, K-12 education and taxes.
Giuliani said that 42 percent of the civilian government workforce will retire in the next eight - 10 years and should not entirely be replaced. Instead, the nation "must take advantage of technology … one person doing the job of two, three or four" in the government. With greater utilization of technology in the public sector, he said, the United States could save $25 billion and become smarter, more effective and efficient.
Technology also needs be used to curb illegal immigration, according to Giuliani. He proposes building a "technological fence" to supplement a physical border fence and the issuance of a "tamper-proof" ID card for anyone entering the country to live and work. By controlling illegal immigration, the nation can "rationally, sensibly, effectively and productively" solve legal immigration issues. To applause, Giuliani said he supported opening up the visa system to make it easier for highly skilled technology workers to come to the U.S. and reaffirmed that we need legal immigrants at all levels "throughout the economy … who want to work hard and are willing to do jobs that are critical to our economy."
Also to applause, Giuliani said "The Internet [access] tax moratorium is set to expire and it should be continued, that the capital gains tax should stay at no more than 15 percent or be reduced, and that the inheritance tax should be eliminated.
Challenges exist in the area of science, technology, engineering and math education in the United States, according to Giuliani. The nation needs to place a "tremendous emphasis on science and math education," he said. The United States also must provide parents a choice in where they decide to send their children to school (K-12). "Vouchers are the answer," he said. "We must give parents the power of choice, like students now have in higher education."
Giuliani is the third speaker in the NVTC Presidential Series, following speeches by Senator John McCain in September 2006 and former Governor Mitt Romney in April 2007. NVTC has extended invitations to the major candidates in both political parties and hopes to add additional candidates to the line-up in the near future.
To learn more about the NVTC Presidential Series and other NVTC events, visit www.nvtc.org.
