Google to Help Congress Become More Efficient?

Tech giant honcho Eric Schmidt met with GOP transition head
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2010 9:59 AM CST
Google to Help Congress Become More Efficient?
House Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner of Ohio, right, stands next to Republican Majority Transition Chairman Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., during a news conference on Capitol Hill Nov. 10, 2010.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Google’s CEO made a stop at the House Republican transition office days after the election—but not to talk politics. In a discussion centered around upping Congressional efficiency, Eric Schmidt spoke with GOP transition head Greg Walden, explaining how Google could help Congress by making it possible to edit bills in real time, reducing printing costs. Walden expressed concerns about the “antiquated” state of the House, Politico reports, noting that the meeting reflects the degree to which the GOP is thinking about shaking up the House.

Schmidt said "you ought to be able to in real time get a bill marked up and see how it effects the statute," explains Walden. "And you can do all that electronically on an iPad. In energy and commerce, you have 200 copies of every amendment distributed before we vote on it. And then we throw it out in the end.” Walden noted that he’d like to hear from other software firms about how to make things more efficient.
(More Greg Walden stories.)

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