While this excerpt from an article at:

http://www.sltrib.com/01151999/nation_w/75011.htm

does not directly involve utilities, they are an extension of the government's problems:

" WASHINGTON -- Utah Republican Sen. Bob Bennett and three other congressional Republicans on Thursday implored President Clinton to make Y2K computer compliance a ``national priority'' in the 2000 budget proposal. ``The consequences for our economy could be dire if the necessary resources are not devoted to fix a problem that can be solved. To ensure that happens, we urge you to make a resolution of the Year 2000 computer crisis a national priority,'' said Bennett, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem. The three-page letter to the White House was jointly issued by Bennett; House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas; Rep. Stephen Horn, R-Calif., chairman of a House subcommittee information and technology; and Rep. Constance Morella, R-Md., chairwoman of a House subcommittee on science technology. Bennett's committee also issued a statement Thursday to accompany the letter out of concern ``that rosy public predictions may be masking serious Y2K compliance problems in the federal government.''

For those readers who believe the Year 2000 problem *should* be a national priority, take the time to e-mail or call your representatives in Congress and tell them so. Believe me, Senators and Congressional Representatives DO keep track of the amount of public input they get on any issue. Here is the URL for "The Congressional E-Mail Directory", and you don't even have to know who your Senators, etc. are - this site will tell you:

http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html

-- Anonymous, January 15, 1999

Answers

What is interesting about this article, Bonnie, is that it indicates that the letter to the President states that Y2k should be a "national priority in the 2000 budget proposal." A rather forward thinking measure, but probably linked to the President's upcoming State of the Union address. I have read other accounts of this story that did not reference the budget, so who knows. This does not detract from the emphasis of the story, however.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 1999