[ Thanks to Ken Barber for this
link. ]
“A bill introduced in the Oregon State Legislature on March 5 by
Rep. Phil Barnhart ‘requires state government to consider using
open source software when acquiring new software.’ Sounds good–if
it passes.“According to the press release we received from the bill’s
primary proponent, Ken Barber, ‘Unlike California’s Digital
Software Security Act [which has not yet become law – ED.],
Oregon’s bill does not mandate the use of Open Source Software; it
only requires that it be ‘on the list’ of approved products for
State use. It also requires state agencies to provide justification
to the taxpayers any time proprietary software is purchased…’“Barber, a resident of Eugene, Oregon, is an MCSE with a
self-described ‘preference for open source.’ Indeed, one of his
pricipal volunteer activies is helping local schools convert to
open source. He contacted Rep. Barnhart (who is also from Eugene),
and asked him to introduce this bill…”