Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today criticized Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) for his politically motivated attack on Microsoft’s new Windows XP, due out in October.

               Sen. Schumer has taken the recent decision regarding Microsoft as an opportunity to declare war on the company,” said CAGW President Thomas A. Schatz.  “His letter is full of inaccuracies, misinterpretations of the law, and misunderstanding of the marketplace and Windows XP itself.  The senator conveys the caterwauls of companies who are finding that Microsoft is a tough negotiator regarding its software products.  It is also not clear what qualifications he possesses to declare himself an expert in software design and marketplace competition.  This is the same legislator who once declared that he was concerned about the price of breakfast cereals.”

            Sen. Schumer held a press conference this morning to discuss his call for “open access” for competitors and called upon Microsoft to make immediate changes in Windows XP.  Specifically, Microsoft should extend its agreement to allow PC manufacturers and consumers to choose their browsers to other applications, such as Windows Messenger, Windows Media Player and MSN Internet Service.  Sen. Schumer also suggested that regulators examine the possibility of enjoining the release of XP as well as hearings on Capitol Hill.

            “Sen. Schumer has bought the arguments of Microsoft’s competitors hook, line and sinker,” added Schatz.  “He even uses the term ‘bundle’ rather than the more accurate ‘integrate’ when referring to software applications in Windows XP.  This is an extremely liberal reading of the circuit court’s decision in the Microsoft case from an extremely liberal member of the Senate.  It is unlikely the senator would find many of his colleagues in favor of his efforts to impede the growth of the high tech economy at a time when it is clear economic recovery is not going to occur in the near future.  Surely, he does not want to go down in history as the senator that killed technology.”

            “This is not time for interference in the marketplace from Capitol Hill,” Schatz concluded.  “Sen. Schumer and his colleagues should let the judicial process and the efforts to settle the Microsoft case move forward.  New Mexico recently settled the case, and other states may follow their lead in short order.  Sen. Schumer should stick to fighting computer crimes and stop fighting progress.”