ARTS & FARCES internet

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, presumably a free-market capitalist, is proposing the state’s technology companies lend computer experts to the Office of Enterprise Technology for up to a year. Free. Well, sort of free; the private companies would continue to pay their employees’ salaries and benefits. That’s the story according to the Minneapolis StarTribune‘s John Reinan.

What Pawlenty has in mind is a complete overhaul of the state government’s computer network. According to Reinan’s story—the proposal doesn’t appear to be available on either the Office of Enterprise Technology’s website or the governor’s website—Pawlenty’s proposal lists 14 categories of work ranging from security to design. The proposal is reportedly part of Pawlenty’s Drive to Excellence program, headed by Dan McElroy.

Reinan reports that McElroy said companies have been “very enthusiastic” in early talks about the program, although none of the company representatives cited in the article have yet volunteered any bodies. The state’s chief information officer, Gopal Khanna, told Reinan that he was hopeful that Minnesota-based companies would renew the spirit of the 1970s “Minnesota Miracle,” when companies “were honored and delighted to participate” in similar projects related to public education. The difference, it’s reasonable to assume, is that the companies received at least partial compensation for their participation. Although, as Reinan points out, the bait may be opportunities to land future state contracts. The state insists that there will be no penalties for those companies that decline to partipate and “no inside track for those that do.”