Tech Industry Offers Congrats, Wish List for Obama

Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro was among the more high-profile tech-industry supporters of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, but he said on Nov 7 that he is hopeful President Barack Obama will refocus his attention on improving the federal government's fiscal house and boosting the economy after winning a second term.

Even though he said he continues to believe President Obama "has been the worst president for business in my lifetime," Shapiro said in an interview that the President has been "very tech friendly." "His attitude toward business has to change," Shapiro added. "His legacy will want to be a strong healthy economy. That requires that you embrace business somehow." In addition to focusing on reducing the deficit and addressing the so-called "fiscal cliff" at the end of the year, when taxes are set to go up and major spending cuts are slated to go into effect, Shapiro said he is hopeful Obama can work with Congress on immigration reform. CEA and other tech groups have been pushing lawmakers for legislation that would allow more foreign students who graduate from U.S. schools with tech-related degrees to stay and work in the United States.