States Face Internal Feuds Over Microsoft
National | at | by Mike
Efforts urging states to drop antitrust litigation against Microsoft are ramping up, and some candidates vying for key state political offices are raising concerns about campaign contributions as the trial's remedy proceedings begin Monday.
On Dec. 12, SBC Communications donated $12,000 to Lockyer's campaign. On June 25, 2001, Oracle made a $25,000 donation, and Oracle donated $25,000 in 2000. America Online made three donations totaling $3,000 in 2001, according to Lockyer's campaign filings.
But Californians suffer from a "general feeling of fatigue" when it comes to the Microsoft case, according to Sonia Arrison, director of the Center for Technology Studies at the Pacific Research Institute. "Combine that with the cost to taxpayers of continuing the case, especially in this economy, and Lockyer might do well to rethink his actions... As the election gets closer, the costs of continuing litigation concerning Microsoft will certainly be an issue," Arrison said via e-mail.