I can think of a couple good ones.......that could fill those shoes.
(COMTEX) A: Bush may appoint tech czar
A: Bush may appoint tech czar
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- President-elect Bush is considering the
appointment of a national "technology czar" to his administration to help
promote the U.S. high-tech sector and invigorate government policy toward the
industry, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
The position would be modeled after a similar job created in Virginia in 1998 by
Gov. James Gilmore to promote Virginia as a location for technology firms. It
would also be similar to the Cabinet-level "drug czar" job created during the
administration of Bush's father, giving the czar greater status than current
government positions related to technology, such as heading the Federal
Communications Commission or Federal Trade Commission.
Among the names being mentioned for the job are former Sen. Spencer Abraham of
Michigan, who authored legislation on digital signatures, and Silicon Valley
venture capitalist Floyd Kvamme.
Analysts contacted by the Times appeared split on what the tech czar position
would actually mean in terms of steering government policy.
Lezlee Westine, co-director of the Palo Alto, Caif., lobbying group Technology
Network, said the move would "bring the 'new economy' agenda to the White
House."
Others, however, believed Bush's plate was too full with other long-simmering
Republican priority issues such as tax cuts, education and reforms of social
programs.
With a virtual party deadlock in Congress, some analysts questioned whether Bush
would want to quickly dive into tech-related issues such as Internet sales
taxes, open access to cable television lines and online privacy.
"Bush already has a very full agenda of very big issues," said Scott Cleland,
technology analyst for Washington's Precursor Group. "Technology is clearly not
going to be a top-tier policy priority of this administration."
Nevertheless, Bush aides have already been making the rounds in Silicon Valley
to sound out their feelings on matters -- including a tech czar and possibly
convening a high-tech summit meeting next month, the newspaper said.
(c) 2000 UPI All rights reserved.
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Copyright 2000 by United Press International.
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