Ninth District Congressman today joined the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), a group of 65 centrist Democrats in the House of Representatives, to unveil the group’s “e-genda 2.0.”

The e-genda is a list of the NDC’s technology priorities and includes measures to improve teacher quality, expand technology education, provide greater access to overseas markets, encourage innovation, promote e-commerce, and maintain fiscal discipline.

“The e-genda outlines policies that we need to adopt in order to keep our country poised to compete in the New Economy,” said Smith. “One of the most important aspects of the e-genda is the focus on education and worker training. We have thousands of unfilled technology jobs right here in Washington state, and we need to make sure that we’re training today’s workers and educating the next generation. Enormous opportunities are provided by the New Economy, and I want to make sure that no one is left behind.”

Technology issues are critically important to the Ninth District, argues Smith. “Growth in the technology sector actually has a far bigger impact in the South Sound than it does up in Redmond and the Eastside,” Smith explained. “The Microsoft millionaires are going to be fine. What I want to do is encourage technology companies to grow and create good paying jobs in the South Sound, and that’s happening. What’s more, the entire Puget Sound economy benefits by the growth in technology and the job creation it brings.”