Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

Issues

Microsoft Trial

Statement on Microsoft Settlement

November 2, 2001

I would like to express my support for the recently announced agreement to settle the prolonged antitrust suit that the U.S. Justice Department has been pursuing against Microsoft. At this critical time, our fragile economy needs the boost that the creative and industrious work of Microsoft employees will provide.

I am gratified to see the Justice Department pursuing this course of action. There is broad Congressional support for such a settlement, as evidenced by a letter sent by U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn and myself to the Justice Department in the wake of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision. One hundred twenty-two Members of Congress co-signed our letter, which encouraged the Justice Department to settle the case. I am hopeful that settlement, as well as the release of Windows XP, will help improve our economy.

The next step to bring resolution to this case will be bringing along the state attorneys general who are parties to the suit. As you may know, it was the state attorneys general who last year derailed a settlement agreement between the Justice Department and Microsoft. I am optimistic that this time around, these same attorneys general will recognize the importance of not politicizing this issue, and will instead consider the best way to help strengthen our country.