The Circuit

Follow the Money

Share-in-savings contracting—in which agencies pay little or no money for services and instead pay contractors a percentage of the savings their project generates—is a hot topic on the House Government Re.form Committee, according to staff member Nathaniel Wienecke.

Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) is drafting a bill for release later this summer, but Chairman Dan Burton (R-Ind.) has his own ideas about encouraging agencies to use the innovative acquisition practice, Wienecke said. The liveliest discussion centers on what to do with savings that aren't earmarked for the contractors. Lawmakers question if it should go to the agency (rather than into the general fund) and, if so, how much influence Congress should have over that money.

Ellison: Break it up, Bill

It's no secret that Oracle Corp.'s chairman and chief executive officer, Larry Ellison, does not like Microsoft Corp. or its head honcho, Bill Gates. The recent appeals court ruling involving Microsoft has only given Ellison more fuel for his fire.

At a roundtable interview session with reporters following his keynote address at the E-Gov 2001 trade show in Washington, D.C., last week, Ellison called the latest ruling against Microsoft a disaster for the company because it was "found guilty of a variety of noncompetitive practices." He said the Redmond, Wash.-based giant should consider breaking up its dynasty rather than face constant government oversight in the future. We're pretty confident that Gates will ignore Ellison's advice. People, People, People!

People management and e-government likely will top President Bush's list of management priorities scheduled for release this summer, according to David Walker, comptroller general at the General Accounting Office. The Senate, meanwhile, plans to hold a hearing this week to discuss how agencies are recruiting and retaining skilled workers. And at the end of July, the House Government Reform Committee's Technology and Procurement Policy Subcommittee is expected to discuss the information technology workforce crisis and consider legislative changes that could help agencies address the issue.

Slogans

Can catchy new slogans get taxpayers to file their returns online? We spotted two slick slogans at last week's E-Gov conference: "Step out of the past" and "Click into the future with IRS e-file."

Where's Roger?

We checked in with Roger Baker, former chief information officer at the Commerce Department, to find out what he's been up to. He's working one day a week as a consultant to Sytel Inc., an e-business company that develops infrastructures and portals, and spends much of his time chauffeuring his children to band camp. What's he doing the rest of the time? "I've been able to get in my running program," Baker said. Ah, the sweet warm days of summer.

Exits

Bob Bubniak, associate deputy assistant secretary for telecommunications at the Department of Veterans Affairs, is retiring July 31. Bubniak served briefly as the agency's acting CIO. As for his plans, they are simple: He says he'll be "looking after my parents and just enjoying life." n

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