Google CEO Eric Schmidt is calling on the government to do a “two-for” in crafting any economic stimulus policy. Instead of simply focusing on creating jobs, he suggests the government could simultaneously stimulate the economy and promote energy conservation.
In a wide-ranging speech today at the New America Foundation in Washington, Mr. Schmidt suggested the economic plan could be written in ways to boost spending on contractors doing home insulation work, auto makers who beat overall industry mileage standards and infrastructure improvements that could aid wind and solar energy.
Mr. Schmidt, who has been mentioned as a potential candidate for a position in the administration of President-elect Barack Obama, also called for the government to start taking the kind of steps in developing policy that are taking place in the non-government world.
“The government has not embraced the tools that we all use every day,” said Mr. Schmidt.
He said one problem is government agencies that either don’t put information on the Web or put it there in a way that can’t be indexed and therefore isn’t easily searchable.
He suggested, though, that the problem is more widespread and that the political changes that took place during the presidential campaign, with citizens becoming increasingly involved, haven’t been fully taken into account by government agencies.
“It’s time to restore trust in how our government works,” he said. He suggested the government should work to take advantage of the citizen engagement apparent during the campaign by taking steps to open up policy debates and proposed legislation to more widespread public vetting and discussion by putting drafts up on the Internet.
Mr. Schmidt said a few agencies have launched initiatives that do provide the opportunities, but the whole government needs to act.
“Why is that not true with every branch of government? Use all those people who care so passionately and have a lot of free time to help,” he said.
Mr. Schmidt’s comments came as Google released its technology, economic growth and open government priorities for 2009.
A pamphlet distributed at the speech said those priorities included creating more broadband Internet competition, protecting an open Internet and protecting balance in copyright laws, along with efforts to improve math and science education, promote energy conservation and make government information more accessible.
Mr. Schmidt in his speech praised the Federal Communications Commission for taking “an act of remarkable courage” in fending off tremendous pressure to open up more spectrum space to cable and telecom rivals.