Small Business A Key Issue for Dems

A look at the week of August 30, 2010, in public advocacy for the IT channel

The last week of August, a top Pentagon official confirmed a significant cybersecurity breach in which a flash drive was used to infect U.S. military computers.  A recent report touted the $100-billion Recovery Act as a major source of funding for healthcare IT.  Meanwhile, high tech-sector profits have translated into a frenzy of M&A rather than an increase in hiring.  And with elections approaching, Democrats are highlighting the small business records of members facing uphill reelection battles.

Military Computer Attack Confirmed - A top Pentagon official, William J Lynn 3d, Deputy Secretary of Defense, has confirmed that in 2008, a foreign intelligence agent used a flash drive to infect computers, including those used by the Central Command in overseeing combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.  According to The New York Times, Lynn described the previously classified incident as “the most significant breach of U.S. military computers ever.”  According to Lynn, the Pentagon operation to counter the attack “marked a turning point in U.S. cyber-defense strategy.”

Recovery Act Fuels Life-Saving Technology - According to a recent White House report, new technology made possible by the $100 billion Recovery Act will fund major innovative and technological breakthroughs in solar power, electric vehicles and medical research.  Government HealthIT noted that the funding is helping to drive the use of electronic health records, e-prescribing and the use of mobile devices to link remote patients and providers.

Tech Firms Choose Mergers over Hiring - According to CNN Money, a combination of cost-cutting tactics and an improving economic climate have driven tech-sector profits up this year.  The result: a tech M&A frenzy that industry analysts think is just getting started.  Analysts say the buy-out boom is fueled by companies' reluctance to gamble on hiring and internally developing new product lines.

Small Business a Key Issue for Dems - Democrats have opted to highlight the small-business records of several of their younger members who face uphill reelection battles, The Hill reports.  The effort, part of the Democrats' six-week summer messaging campaign, is designed to tout Democrats' accomplishments while pressuring Republicans on how they would lead if the GOP took control of Congress.