Politech mailing list archives
FC: More on "How canny bureaucrats grab dot com wealth"
From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 12:18:29 -0400
********** From: "Baker, Stewart" <SBaker () steptoe com> To: declan () well com cc: "Albertazzie, Sally" <SAlbertazzie () steptoe com> Subject: RE: MarvinRunyon.com -- How canny bureaucrats grab dot com wealth Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2000 15:36:28 -0400 Interesting, Declan, but I've always wondered whether Grover himself was open to similar charges. Has anyone compared Grover Norquist's lobbying clientele with the positions taken by Americans for Tax Reform? Did ATR discover the encryption export issue at the same time that Microsoft hired Norquist? Indeed, is he shilling for some lobbying client -- perhaps some other dot.com getting into the postage business -- in this very piece? There's no disclosure, but the tendentious nature of the article -- trashing the USPS for postage rates that have stayed remarkably stable in real terms on the specious grounds that telecom rates have gone down, for example -- has the air of a piece driven by client interest rather than the public interest. Stewart Baker Steptoe & Johnson LLP phone -- 202.429.6413 email fax -- 202.261.9825 main fax -- 202.429.3902 sbaker () steptoe com -----Original Message----- From: Declan McCullagh [mailto:declan () well com] Sent: Friday, March 31, 2000 10:38 AM To: politech () vorlon mit edu Subject: FC: MarvinRunyon.com -- How canny bureaucrats grab dot com wealth The Washington Times op-ed Marvin Runyon.com By Grover Norquist On the Internet, being first to market with a recognizable product name or service - or simply an idea - can mean instant riches. This creates a unique conflict of interest for regulatory officials who sometimes decide who gets this vital first-mover advantage, or in some instances, go private themselves and move to the head of the line. Take the case of former Postmaster General Marvin Runyon, who oversaw the regulatory process for online postage. Mr. Runyon decided which companies could bring products to market, and then conveniently dealt himself stock options worth a cool $3.8 million after leaving the U.S. Postal Service to become a director of Stamps.com . The instant wealth of public officials who become dot-com millionaires should alarm taxpayers. We rejoice in the success of true entrepreneurs who legally and honorably apply skills and name recognition gained in public service to make their fortunes. But the possibility of self-dealing privatizations as the Internet economy forces independent government agencies and public corporations to undertake radical changes could mean that taxpayers - who capitalized these agencies and are effectively the shareholders - could get the short end of the stick.[...]
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- FC: More on "How canny bureaucrats grab dot com wealth" Declan McCullagh (Apr 12)