IP: Second day of Congress' "high tech summit" -- a waste of time

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

>Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 19:51:06 -0400
>To: politech@vorlon.mit.edu
>From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
>
>
>I have been hanging out at the so-called high tech summit held by the Joint
>Economic Committee. In reality it's a three-day hearing designed to let
>CEOs blather about the wonders of this new economy thang. It also lets
>legislators appear concerned about the Right Issues as they lob softball
>questions about what to do about privacy and kids on the net. I never
>thought I'd say this, but I can't wait for US v. Microsoft to resume tomorrow.
>
>My writeup from today:
>   http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/20236.html
>
>And another take (below) from someone who represents a high tech company
>that chose not to participate.
>
>-Declan
>
> >From my perspective it was an essentially cosmetic affair, giving
> >Republicans the opportunity to associate themselves with high-tech leaders
> >and their issues.  It doesn't seem to have been designed to deal in depth
> >with any issue, but more an opportunity to crowd as many names on the agenda
> >as possible.  Participants may have been impressed that they were invited to
> >testify, but if they have any expectations that more aggressive high-tech
> >friendly policies will follow, they'll be dissapointed.  Example:  The FY-99
> >H-1B Visa cap has just been reached, 3 and 1/2 months prior to the end of
> >the fiscal year.  There is no will in the Congress to offer remedial
> >legislation, Clinton opposes the visa issue and Repbulicans can't even get a
> >veto-proof majority on the issue.  (Phil Gramm's proposed legislation on
> >this issue is a non-starter.) Interested in your take on this event. Thanks.
>
>
>
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