Fresh from a two-year stint in the U.S. Commerce Department, Ro Khanna remains enamored of Washington -- despite Washington.
The 34-year-old lawyer, who oversaw 109 U.S. Export Assistance Centers operating in 47 different states in his role as deputy assistant secretary, resigned his post earlier this month to take a position in the office of Silicon Valley powerhouse law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Khanna had a front-row seat to the political gridlock that roiled the world's financial markets as Congress failed to raise the nation's debt ceiling until the eleventh hour, causing Standard & Poor's to downgrade the nation's credit rating. But he says that hasn't dimmed his view on the role he believes the federal government can play in stimulating economic growth.
"There has been this bipartisan tradition that government needs to support innovation and technological progress," the Fremont resident said during an interview Saturday afternoon. "The competition isn't between Democrats and Republicans, it's with China and Brazil, India and Korea. They are all heavily investing in their manufacturing capacity and providing the right tax policies. We have to come together on a strong agenda for American competitiveness to keep America's economy the world's No. 1 economic engine."
Khanna's appointment in 2009 was a sign to many in the valley's Indo-American community, long influential in the region's technology ecosystem, that it was moving beyond simply writing checks for candidates. Local ethnic Indians are frequently tapped for financial support by the national Republican and Democratic parties.
"We have done well in business. We have done well in finance, entrepreneurship and at being professors," valley venture capitalist and entrepreneur Kanwal Rekhi said after Khanna's appointment was announced two years ago. "The two areas left are Hollywood and Washington, D.C. We can't leave any territory uncovered."
When Khanna unsuccessfully ran against the late Rep. Tom Lantos in the 2004 Democratic primary, he caught the eye of party insiders. Lantos, impressed with the young attorney's political vigor, became a mentor to his former political opponent.
"Ro was one of the first Indo-Americans to run for Congress," said Kamil Hasan, a general partner in Silicon Valley venture company Hitek Venture Partners and a longtime supporter of Democratic politicians. "The South Asian Indian community is hoping he'll run again for Congress. With his experience in the Commerce Department, he can be a very formidable candidate."
Khanna said he plans to remain politically involved by campaigning and fundraising for President Barack Obama's re-election. And he does not rule out a future run for office.
"I leave the option open to serve in some capacity," he said.
Khanna embraces the interests of Silicon Valley tech companies. He believes the federal government should lower the tax corporations must pay to bring overseas cash holdings to the United States. Tech trade groups say the tax forces companies to invest abroad rather than in the United States, while critics have said that much of the more than $300 billion repatriated during a tax holiday in 2004 went to shareholders through increased dividends or expanded share buybacks, not investments.
Khanna, who worked to promote U.S. exports and its manufacturing sector while at the Commerce Department, says some sort of program could be crafted that insures some of the money is invested in expansions on American turf in exchange for a lower tax rate for overseas cash.
"There should be some linkage to investment to create jobs and bringing back dollars at a reduced corporate tax," he said. The tax revenue, Khanna added, should be funneled into an "infrastructure bank," a fund Obama has promoted, to pay for new roads, broadband expansion and other projects across the country.
He also believes the government should continue to support research in such areas as clean technology -- the Obama administration has overseen some $50 billion in loan guarantees in clean tech companies and research projects. He cited previous Republican and Democratic administrations as supporting key research and infrastructure projects that have played important roles in the nation's economic growth.
Khanna admits that he is still a bit star-struck around his former boss. He was on hand when Obama toured Fremont-based solar manufacturer Solyndra in May last year.
Someone had handed Khanna a camera, which he handed to someone else so he could also be in the picture, he recalled. The president, Khanna added, said, "Ro, you work for me. Get out of the picture."
The 34-year-old lawyer, who oversaw 109 U.S. Export Assistance Centers operating in 47 different states in his role as deputy assistant secretary, resigned his post earlier this month to take a position in the office of Silicon Valley powerhouse law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Khanna had a front-row seat to the political gridlock that roiled the world's financial markets as Congress failed to raise the nation's debt ceiling until the eleventh hour, causing Standard & Poor's to downgrade the nation's credit rating. But he says that hasn't dimmed his view on the role he believes the federal government can play in stimulating economic growth.
"There has been this bipartisan tradition that government needs to support innovation and technological progress," the Fremont resident said during an interview Saturday afternoon. "The competition isn't between Democrats and Republicans, it's with China and Brazil, India and Korea. They are all heavily investing in their manufacturing capacity and providing the right tax policies. We have to come together on a strong agenda for American competitiveness to keep America's economy the world's No. 1 economic engine."
Khanna's appointment in 2009 was a sign to many in the valley's Indo-American community, long influential in the region's technology ecosystem, that it was moving beyond simply writing checks for candidates. Local ethnic Indians are frequently tapped for financial support by the national Republican and Democratic parties.
"We have done well in business. We have done well in finance, entrepreneurship and at being professors," valley venture capitalist and entrepreneur Kanwal Rekhi said after Khanna's appointment was announced two years ago. "The two areas left are Hollywood and Washington, D.C. We can't leave any territory uncovered."
When Khanna unsuccessfully ran against the late Rep. Tom Lantos in the 2004 Democratic primary, he caught the eye of party insiders. Lantos, impressed with the young attorney's political vigor, became a mentor to his former political opponent.
"Ro was one of the first Indo-Americans to run for Congress," said Kamil Hasan, a general partner in Silicon Valley venture company Hitek Venture Partners and a longtime supporter of Democratic politicians. "The South Asian Indian community is hoping he'll run again for Congress. With his experience in the Commerce Department, he can be a very formidable candidate."
Khanna said he plans to remain politically involved by campaigning and fundraising for President Barack Obama's re-election. And he does not rule out a future run for office.
"I leave the option open to serve in some capacity," he said.
Khanna embraces the interests of Silicon Valley tech companies. He believes the federal government should lower the tax corporations must pay to bring overseas cash holdings to the United States. Tech trade groups say the tax forces companies to invest abroad rather than in the United States, while critics have said that much of the more than $300 billion repatriated during a tax holiday in 2004 went to shareholders through increased dividends or expanded share buybacks, not investments.
Khanna, who worked to promote U.S. exports and its manufacturing sector while at the Commerce Department, says some sort of program could be crafted that insures some of the money is invested in expansions on American turf in exchange for a lower tax rate for overseas cash.
"There should be some linkage to investment to create jobs and bringing back dollars at a reduced corporate tax," he said. The tax revenue, Khanna added, should be funneled into an "infrastructure bank," a fund Obama has promoted, to pay for new roads, broadband expansion and other projects across the country.
He also believes the government should continue to support research in such areas as clean technology -- the Obama administration has overseen some $50 billion in loan guarantees in clean tech companies and research projects. He cited previous Republican and Democratic administrations as supporting key research and infrastructure projects that have played important roles in the nation's economic growth.
Khanna admits that he is still a bit star-struck around his former boss. He was on hand when Obama toured Fremont-based solar manufacturer Solyndra in May last year.
Someone had handed Khanna a camera, which he handed to someone else so he could also be in the picture, he recalled. The president, Khanna added, said, "Ro, you work for me. Get out of the picture."
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