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That is, perhaps, a question best asked of the people actually working for that states' government.

So you don't know but you back the state's position? And it's Taxachussettes no less. Now typically conservatives are more than willing to bash such a liberal state like that...they are one of the big three for us to pick on (the other 2...cali and NY). But their IT views are spot on and you'll defend them even without knowing why.

Let's face it...PDF is required just as much as a .doc is. They chose to allow PDF because it's not Microsoft. They were out to get Microsoft duing the Anti-trust trial and now they see they failed. So they are spending more tax payers money to try again, but using different tactics. it's fine with me really as this will just drive their taxes higher and make more people leave that corrupt over-taxed state. I just hope it's the conservatives that leave.

"So you don't know but you back the state's position?"

I don't know why they require it, but I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that they do. PDF is very commonly used, and it's not unlikely that those making policy were told time and time again that workers could not live without PDF or a workable replacement. Lacking said workable replacement, the policy was set to exclude PDF.

"typically conservatives are more than willing to bash such a liberal state like that...they are one of the big three for us to pick on"

I don't like to generalize; I take situations as they come. I'll file this under 'broken clock'.

"But their IT views are spot on and you'll defend them even without knowing why."

They've explained why they're moving to openly available document standards. As for why they have an exception for PDF, I'm working off the only reasonable assumption I can make on the issue. You're making an assumption based on a displaced paranoid persecution complex. Their policy does not exclude Microsoft; Microsoft's failure thus far to adhere to an agreed-upon standard causes them to be excluded. If and when Microsoft supports the standard document format, agencies within the state will be free to purchase Microsoft supplied solutions under this policy.

"Let's face it...PDF is required just as much as a .doc is."

There are many alternatives to .doc which are widely available. Can you say the same for PDF?

"They chose to allow PDF because it's not Microsoft. They were out to get Microsoft duing the Anti-trust trial"

Again with the persecution complex... Are you Steve Ballmer?