Microsoft: U.S. must pass bailout bill

Microsoft has begun lobbying for Congress to pass the bailout bill that was just shot down, warning that it's vital to make sure that jobs aren't lost, and the economy doesn't slide further into a deep recession. Like it or not, the company is right.

Microsoft sent an e-mail to Washington state congressmen who voted against the bailout legislation, urging them to reconsider their votes and support the legislation. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the email reads:

Microsoft strongly urges members of the U.S. House of Representatives to reconsider and to support legislation that will re-instill confidence and stability in the financial markets. This legislation is vitally important to the health and preservation of jobs in all sectors of the economy of Washington State and the nation, and we urge Congress to act swiftly.

Four Congressmen from Washington state voted against the legislation; five voted for it.

On the same day, Steve Ballmer warned that the global economic crisis will hurt Microsoft. According to Reuters, he said in Oslo:

We have a lot of business with the corporate sector as well as with the consumer sector and whatever happens economically will certainly effect itself on Microsoft.

Microsoft is right here. No one wants to reward the Wall Street slezoids who plunged us into this crisis, but something has to be done. The current bill, as imperfect as it is, may help avert a serious recession, has some protection for taxpayers, and does at least something to stop the Wall Street sleazes from getting big payouts. If the government does nothing, the sleazes will get big payouts, anyway. Doing nothing won't affect them, but may send the economy into an even worse tailspin.

So Microsoft is right in lobbying Washington congressmen to vote for the bill if it comes up again for a vote. The congressmen should hold their noses and vote "yea."

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