Apple CEO Tim Cook Talks Technology With Senator Orrin Hatch During Washington, D.C. Trip

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with at least one U.S. senator to discuss technology policy during a trip to Washington, D.C. this week, reports The Hill. According to the report, Cook sat down with Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force.

Cook apparently met with Hatch to discuss the senator's innovation agenda for the upcoming 114th Congress, which is scheduled to convene in January 2015. The pro-research and innovation plan addresses several critical technology issues including patent trolls, company trade secrets, and more.

Sen. Hatch, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, laid out a plan to ensure that the United States continues to foster an environment that encourages research and innovation by addressing abusive patent litigation, protecting trade secrets, modernizing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, strengthening cybersecurity, reforming immigration policy for high-skilled workers, reducing regulatory and tax burdens for innovators, and removing barriers to digital trade.

Details of the conversation were not made available, nor is it known whether Cook met with any other senators during his D.C. trip. On Monday, the Apple CEO, along with (RED) CEO Deborah Dugan, dropped by a Georgetown Apple Store in the city to mark World AIDS Day and Apple's contributions toward the (RED) campaign. Both Cook and Dugan tweeted photos from the visit.

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Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Talks Technology With Senator Orrin Hatch During Washington, D.C. Trip

 

[macintologist]

Since Tim Cook is a California resident shouldn't he be meeting with his California Senators/Reps?

 

[Small White Car]

Since Tim Cook is a California resident shouldn't he be meeting with his California Senators/Reps?

"Sen. Hatch, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force..."

 

[aaronvan]

Since Tim Cook is a California resident shouldn't he be meeting with his California Senators/Reps?

I doubt Tim Cook could stand to be in the same room with California's two odious Senators.

 

[FrizzleFryBen]

"Sen. Hatch, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force..."

Precisely. Those who have a direct impact on laws that affect how technologies will be regulated MUST understand them. Currently, I don't have any confidence that Senator Hatch understands everything that he does on this committee.

Now if Senator Hatch would take the time to meet with knowledgable consumers, programmers, developers and the like...that would be impressive.

 

[JohnStrass]

Blame Obamacare

I doubt Tim Cook could stand to be in the same room with California's two odious Senators.

I'm sure the good Senator from Utah will NOT use this as a chance to trash Obamacare....

 

[Zxxv]

Sen. Hatch, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, laid out a plan to ensure that the United States continues to foster an environment that encourages research and innovation by addressing abusive patent litigation, protecting trade secrets, modernizing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, strengthening cybersecurity, reforming immigration policy for high-skilled workers, reducing regulatory and tax burdens for innovators, and removing barriers to digital trade.

ooh there it is

 

[duffman9000]

ooh there it is

Yup. I'm sure they will discuss THE CHILDREN THAT APPLE WILL HELP DIE!!!

 

[neuropsychguy]

Now if Senator Hatch would take the time to meet with knowledgable consumers, programmers, developers and the like...that would be impressive.

I'd be surprised if he hasn't. Advocacy groups and lobbyists (remember lobbyists are only evil when they have different opinions/interests than your own) regularly meet with lawmakers and/or staff (I've had the opportunity to do this as a scientist). They don't just meet with the power players.

 

[Rocketman]

For 6 years now Democrats in the Senate have been in charge and taunting Republicans by vacuuous rhetoric accusing them of not coming up with ideas, all the time ignoring over 357 bills PASSED in the R House.

The time is upon us for Republican ideas to get actual traction by PASSING bills in both the House and Senate and piling them high on the desk of the President.

Then we will see what the "leader" of the Democrats actually does with ideas Democrats help craft in both the House and Senate.

I predict this Socialist President will do almost nothing.

This administration believes in tax, spend, borrow, fine, mandate, monologue. The Pres. demogogues Congress, bottlenecked by the D Senate!

BTW I have been saying this continuously for years (see sig).

Top fines collected by FEDGOV. It goes into the Treasury without a mandated use, so the President has the mother of all slush funds!

http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/06/23/a-list-of-the-biggest-bank-settlements/

 

[scbn]

How about the double-tax on the overseas profits issue? Now the Republic is in control of both houses, hopefully they can pass some pro-business bills.

 

[JHankwitz]

It sure would be nice to have legislation mandating patent holders produce and market their ideas within 2 or 3 years or loose them. This would enable them to sell or license them but prevent just sitting on them waiting for opportunity or preventing their use.

 

[Tech198]

Apple's taking on the big dog himself...

Something must be up..

But no fear,, Wikileaks will get it out

 

[Will do good]

I wonder if Orrin Hatch even know how to turn on a computer.

 

[JohnStrass]

For 6 years now Democrats in the Senate have been in charge and taunting Republicans by vacuuous rhetoric accusing them of not coming up with ideas, all the time ignoring over 357 bills PASSED in the R House.

The time is upon us for Republican ideas to get actual traction by PASSING bills in both the House and Senate and piling them high on the desk of the President.

Then we will see what the "leader" of the Democrats actually does with ideas Democrats help craft in both the House and Senate.

I predict this Socialist President will do almost nothing.

BTW I have been saying this continuously for years (see sig).

1. Its nice that only 54 of those "Bills PASSED" ware pointless attempts to kill obamacare...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...-four-years-on-obamacare-heres-the-full-list/


2. read up on your Socialism...

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/365722/market-socialism

 

[2499723]

I predict this Socialist President will do almost nothing

For better or for worse, depending on one's point of view, Obama is quite the opposite of a socialist president. I'm not sure that's even possible in US politics (or indeed most of Western Europe) given the near universal attachment to neo-liberal free market ideology. Whatever one's leanings, it seems there are certain universal truths to modern 'Western democracies', and that's one of them.

 

[fastlanephil]

I wonder if Orrin Hatch even know how to turn on a computer.

I don't think you need to be a computer geek to help make policy decisions concerning technology. I'm sure Senator Hatch has the advice of America's best technology experts at his disposal. What is needed from Senator Hatch is a clear world view and sence of fairness that supersedes Washington politics.

He does seem to be a pretty smart, low key, level headed person who trys to do what's right for the most part. But you don't get elected to the U.S. Senate by being a nice person either. A nessasary evil I'm afraid.

 

[paulyras]

How about the double-tax on the overseas profits issue? Now the Republic is in control of both houses, hopefully they can pass some pro-business bills.

While they're at it, please stop double taxation on citizens living overseas. You think the corporate tax laws are draconian for overseas earned income, you should see what the US does tax wise to it's own people living abroad (singularly- essentially no other country does this).

The common thread here is nothing will be done in either case.

 

[JohnStrass]

While they're at it, please stop double taxation on citizens living overseas. You think the corporate tax laws are draconian for overseas earned income, you should see what the US does tax wise to it's own people living abroad (singularly- essentially no other country does this).

The common thread here is nothing will be done in either case.

There IS NO DOUBLE TAX. Simply, you pay local taxes. IF the taxes you pay are less than US income tax, then you pay Uncle Sam the difference.


In other words, you benefit from being American and pay the same taxes as any other American.

 

[KPOM]

Hatch is a fairly moderate, mainstream Republican. As the incoming chairman of the relevant committee, he's the right person that Apple should be reaching out to. There is a lot going on right now, from control over Internet domain names (which the US is ceding in September 2015), net neutrality, DCMA, and privacy that directly affects Apple.

----------

There IS NO DOUBLE TAX. Simply, you pay local taxes. IF the taxes you pay are less than US income tax, then you pay Uncle Sam the difference.


In other words, you benefit from being American and pay the same taxes as any other American.

But most other countries don't tax the foreign income of their citizens living overseas. The US and Russia are notable exceptions. That puts our citizens at a disadvantage relative to citizens of other countries when living abroad.

 

[nagromme]

For 6 years now Democrats in the Senate have been in charge and taunting Republicans by vacuuous rhetoric accusing them of not coming up with ideas, all the time ignoring over 357 bills PASSED in the R House.

How about when Obama and the Democrats accept and embrace a good Republican-initiated idea (hint: Obamacare is but one example) and then the Republicans flip-flop and make up all kinds of fictions ("death panels" anyone?) just to block "the enemy" from being seen to serve the country? Their policy is to oppose everything... and then ober the coming years when Obama's policies do help people in spite of all opposition, they'll gladly take the credit. Time travel at its best! (See also: Obama somehow caused the recession under Bush's adminstration!)

Great.

Somebody had to say it

 

[arkmannj]

It scares me that Orrin Hatch is The Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force... He's one step away from "the internet runs on tubes"

 

[duffman9000]

This administration believes in cutting taxes, spend, borrow, fine, mandate, monologue.

You just described the last bonehead Republican you elected.

 

[Col4bin]

I'm 100% positve Tim Cook and Orrin Hatch's conversation also centered largely on the issue of net neutrality, and how the U.S. government wants to regulate, tax, and basically control your internet. Coincidentally, Orrin Hatch has been a large adversary to net neutrality. Also coincidentally, Apple is the only large tech company to not join Google and Microsoft in speaking out against net nuetrality. Hatch is a Republican. (You can draw your own conclusions about who Apple backs.)

http://9to5mac.com/2014/05/07/micro...rt-for-net-neutrality-apple-declines-to-join/

http://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/...to-president-obama-s-net-neutrality-statement

http://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/...ls-court-decision-on-so-called-net-neutrality

Food for thought…

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Totally makes sense, if by "Orrin Hatch is the Chairman of the Republican High-Tech Task Force" you mean "hopeless geezer wanders around with an oilcan trying to figure out where all the watermills went."