(Washington, DC) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), America’s premier waste-fighting advocacy group, today released a letter to state attorneys general announcing that it will investigate the possible waste of federal and state resources involved in legislation, regulations, and litigation aimed at the high technology industry.

             Last week, in conjunction with the Technology Access Action Coalition (TAAC), CAGW released a survey demonstrating that the public overwhelmingly favors allowing the high technology industry to develop in an environment free of costly government interference.  In particular, 83 percent view the pursuit of Microsoft as a waste of federal and state taxpayer funds and resources.

            In the letter, CAGW president Thomas Schatz explains, “Given the results of the TAAC/CAGW poll, it seems unlikely that consumer complaints are the basis of congressional hearings, regulatory investigations, or lawsuits.  Therefore, CAGW will also examine what political motivations and aspirations may be prompting federal and state legislators, regulators and litigators.”

            CAGW has already discovered that of the 20 attorneys general who have brought suit against Microsoft, 70 percent (14) are running for an elected office.  Conversely, of the 30 attorneys general who have not joined the lawsuit, only 30 percent (9) are on the ballot this year.  CAGW will also examine how competitors of companies such as Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco may be manipulating the legal process to overcome marketplace failures.

            CAGW periodically conducts detailed investigations into government programs and activities to insure that elected and appointed officials are using tax dollars wisely.  Among the reports CAGW has issued in 1998 are the Goals 2000 program, healthcare reform, and government milk marketing regulation.

CAGW is a 600,000-member nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of  government waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement.