Lieberman pushes IT czar

Sen. Joseph Lieberman said Wednesday he supports the idea of a federal information

technology czar and may introduce legislation this year to create the post.

Such a position must be more than a "figurehead," Lieberman (D-Conn.) said,

speaking at the E-Gov conference in Washington, D.C.

"We must think about how to position an individual with the proper authority,

visibility, funding and ties to relevant government agencies and existing

statutes," he said. Leslie Phillips, Lieberman's spokesman, said the senator

was still studying the idea, but says the position should be part of the

Office of Management and Budget and not a job outside any agency.

Lieberman said an IT czar should have the ability to "lead e-government

efforts, to interact meaningfully with agency decision-makers and to coordinate

interagency projects."