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Searching For Political Clout
by Heather Greenfield
Google may double its political connections with the hiring of a Republican for its Washington government relations office.
Jamie Brown will leave her job as a White House special assistant for legislative affairs to become a federal relations counsel for Google.
The office opened last summer with Alan Davidson, formerly of the Center for Democracy and Technology think tank. But it has taken until this summer to get a high ranking Republican staffer.
Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, said Google has been somewhat naive about how to play the game in Washington, but added that has been the case for most tech companies arriving in Washington.
"They grow up in Silicon Valley and government isn't on top of their list of things to think about," Atkinson said.
"Republicans control both houses and the White House. It's just the way the game is played. Companies hire Democrats to go talk to Democrats and Republicans to go talk to Republicans," Atkinson said.
"When you have a perception either accurate or not that it has been a little toward the Democratic side, hiring a Republican will help them make their case on issues they're advocating for," Atkinson said.
Brown said she is thrilled about the opportunity to work at Google.
"This is an extraordinarily exciting and important time for the Internet industry, with many policy questions being debated and decided for the very first time," Brown said. "Google is perfectly positioned to help shape those debates and work towards outcomes which will benefit its users, and I look forward to being part of that effort."
Science Committee Experiments With Staff Additions
After spending more than five years in Indonesia, where Komodo dragons inhabit four of the nations' islands, Capitol Hill should be easy for Jason Patlis -- or at least safer.
House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., has hired Patlis as the deputy chief of staff overseeing energy and environmental issues.
Before going to Indonesia on a Fulbright Senior Scholarship in 2000, Patlis served as counsel on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works under the late Sen. John Chafee of Rhode Island. Before that he was a general counsel at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Patlis stayed in Indonesia after his Fulbright research to help with natural resource law and governance during the country's reforms.
"Indonesia is fascinating. It just gets under your skin," Patlis said.
He welcomed the chance to return to Capitol Hill even though Boehlert's term as chairman of the Science committee ends this year.
"It's still an opportunity to work with one of the great leaders of the environmental community and an opportunity to come back to politics and Capitol Hill," Patlis said.
He said the committee has a robust agenda through the end of the year. It is expected to produce bipartisan legislation on energy research and development.
Boehlert also has hired Megan Housewright as a staff assistant on the subcommittee on research. Richard Chandler has joined the subcommittee on energy as a Presidential Management Fellow.
PFF Emphasizing Foreign Cooperation
Barbara Kelly will go from advocating for justice reforms to international technology policy that involves fewer laws and regulations.
The Progress & Freedom Foundation has hired Kelly to be its vice president and executive director of development. The think tank is planning further expansion into South America and Europe. PFF said in a statement as it becomes more of an international think tank it will be seeking partners and supporters who "share PFF's belief in a digital age of limited government, free markets and individual sovereignty."
"I look forward to contributing to its growth at a very exciting time for PFF," Kelly said.
Kelly will leave as director of development for the National Center for State Courts in June. The NCSC is an independent justice reform organization that voices state court positions on national policy issues.
PPF President Ray Gifford said Kelly understands the non-profit world and "her belief in the work we are going at PFF are welcomed."
New General Counsel Brings Experience To CSIA
Barring a data breach, this could be news. The Cyber Security Industry Alliance has hired Liz Gasster as general counsel.
"Liz brings extensive experience in cyber security issues and will be a valuable addition to our team," said CSIA Executive Director Paul Kurtz. "Her strong background in corporate management and her sophisticated understanding of emerging technologies, in addition to her strength in policy and strategic development, will make her an excellent asset to our organization."
Gasster worked for AT&T for more than 26 years, most recently as public policy director and senior attorney, federal government affairs.
It's The People, Stupid
Three Nobel Prize winning physicists offered some rather non-technical advice to a House Science subcommittee on how to make America more competitive.
The scientists, all fellows at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said competitiveness depends on people. Nobel laureate William Phillips said the country needs to welcome skilled immigrants.
As for improving math and science education, instead of asking for better computers, equipment or curriculum, again, the scientists said it was a matter of the people in children's lives.
Nobel Prize winner Eric Cornell told how his father offered physics riddles instead of bedtime stories.
Nobel Prize winner John (Jan) Hall said a key factor in competitiveness is parenting and an obstacle to that is low wages. He said when both mom and dad are forced to work, they just do not have the same energy to put into parenting and students do not perform as well.
"Then the schools get blamed," Hall said. "Families are so stressed."
They also said another key is having students believe they can succeed by meeting people who are scientists. Hall said when asked if they would rather win a Nobel Prize or be a rock star, students pick rock star because they think it is more tangible.
Subcommittee Chairman Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich., seemed to agree, saying he became a mechanical engineer based on a 15-minute conversation with a mechanical engineer he met at a diner. He added the Nobel laureates were rock stars to committee members.
Former Treasury Secretary Bentsen Dies
Flags flew at half mast in Texas to mark the death of former U.S. Treasury Sec. Lloyd Bentsen at 85.
Bentsen died May 22. As a Texas senator for 22 years and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Bentsen was known for his support for civil rights, and his expertise on tax, trade and economic issues.
When Bentsen announced his retirement, Clinton said: "By any stead, he ranks as one of the outstanding economic policymakers in this country since World War II."
He is survived by his wife of 63 years B.A. Bentsen, three children and eight grandchildren.
During a trip to Dallas in a four-seater plane with Bentsen and his wife, known to friends as B.A., this reporter had the chance to ask Bentsen what "B.A." meant. He replied "Best Asset."
Quote of the Week:
"We believe this issue is so important because of free speech."
--Christian Coalition spokeswoman Michele Combs, explaining why her group joined Google, musicians and frequent political adversaries to support net neutrality legislation.
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