Linux in Government: Will Schwarzenegger Terminate Windows?
Having started an open-source initiative in Texas, I can identify many of the pitfalls appearing on the horizon for California. As a former resident of southern California, I understood the unfriendly business climate and the power of special interests in the state, as described by Governor Schwarzenegger during his campaign.
Special interests will attempt to undermine open-source efforts. Although many consider California to be a progressive state, fiscally conservative Republicans have had the most success in achieving open-source adoption. Consider, for example, Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican governor of Massachusetts. In January of this year, through the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, he issued a final policy on the use of open-source software and open standards. The policy requires commonwealth officials to consider all relevant factors, including the potential for excessive dependence on a single supplier, before they spend taxpayer money on information technology.
After failures in Oregon and Texas, Governor Romney's actions came as a breath of fresh air to groups advocating open-source software. Following the order, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Utah, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia and West Virginia joined Massachusetts in forming the Government Open Code Collaborative Repository, which any state and/or municipality can join and contribute open-source applications and technology for other governments units.
