Rattled Davis wants to toss out Oracle deal : ORACLEGATE continues!!! (California of course )

The Orange County Register ^ | May 4, 2002 | JOHN HOWARD

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Gray Davis, under fire for his administration's approval of a $95 million no-bid software contract that could cost taxpayers an extra $41 million, said Friday that he wants to toss out the deal with Oracle Corp.

"We are working closely with the attorney general and negotiators to try and rescind this contract," Davis said.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

No comments yet please, got an add-on I want close to the original.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

		ORACLE DEAL CHRONOLOGY Key dates in the state's approval of a contract with Oracle Corp. 2000-01 Logicon Corp., a reseller of Oracle software, advises the state to approve licensing agreements such as those offered by Oracle. 2001 May: State decides to deal directly with Oracle. May 31: State officials - although not Gov. Gray Davis - sign a $95.million contract with Oracle to provide database software for up to 270,000 state employees and vendors. Main supporters of the deal are the Department of Information Technology, or DOIT, and the Department of General Services. June 5: Davis' campaign reports receiving a $25,000 donation from Oracle. The donation was delivered by Oracle's lobbyist to Arun Baheti, Davis' top technology adviser, who sent it to the campaign. June 27: State Auditor Elaine Howle issues report saying DOIT has ineffective leadership and fails to monitor technology projects. Sept. 14: Legislature orders Howle to audit the Oracle contract. 2002 April 15: Attorney general begins review of Oracle contract. April 16: Howle reports that the contract was negotiated by inexperienced state personnel, the state failed to verify key information, officials ignored evidence that the deal was unnecessary, and that it could cost the state up to $41 million more than if there had been no contract. April 26: Barry Keene resigns as director of General Services. May 2: Davis suspends DOIT Director Elias Cortez. Baheti resigns. Davis orders state offices to halt any shredding related to high-tech contracts and sends in law officers to ensure that his order is followed. Oracle offers to rescind the contract. May 3: Davis says he wants to rescind contract.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OK, kind of messy but the chronology is there and gives those new to Oraclegate a good perspective of the timing!

calgov2002:

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[Bommer]

"I had no idea this contract was being negotiated," Davis said. "And I think most of you know, I'm barely on the information on-ramp, much less proficient in technology, so this is not a matter that would normally come to my attention, nor did it."

Ken Glueck, an Oracle executive with authority over the company's campaign donations, rejected any suggestion that "this contribution is somehow designed to chase business."

"I simply had no knowledge an ELA (enterprise licensing agreement, as the contract became known) was pending in any form whatsoever" when the donation was offered in April, Glueck said.

So the guy GIVING the money to the Govenors campaign warchest had no knowledge of a Contract, and the Govening clown GETTING the money had no knowledge of a Contract. Well this is just a simple Democrap coinsidence isn't it? The Internet isn't the only thing Davis is barely online for!

[jrewingjr]

And now a word from our sponsor:

"This scandal is brought to you by Oracle, the official software provider to Big Brother."

[CTB999]

If you are buying Database software for running a large business or government operation you have three real choices.

1. Oracle

2. Microsoft SQL-Server

3. IBM-UDB

As generic SQL servers all of these products are nearly identical to each other in function and performance. I can tell you that as a programmer with more than 20 years experience that Oracle and Microsoft SQL-Server are almost identical to each other at the server application level. I work with both Oracle and MS-SQL almost every day.

I don't know exactly what California is getting from Oracle. An interesting question is: how many runtime licenses, how much assistance in application development, and what other software came with the deal? I can tell you that California DMV is a mess and the same is probably true for most other State Services in California that require good follow up like Parole, Courts, Welfare, and the like.

Oracle is a California based company and if Oracle can run the all computer operations across the State for $95M then as a California taxpayer, citizen, home owner, and patriot I would believe that we got a good deal for our money.

Gray Davis and the Democrats are at their worst when they try to use the legislative process to subvert the immutable laws of physics. As a Californian I would like to try giving Oracle a chance at providing a solution.

The Energy crisis in California is not over and if Simon and the Republicans want to get my vote they should be talking about how we are going to keep electricity flowing into those nice computers because all the software in the world will do nothing useful without electricity.

[Dog]

Ernest can you add me to your ping list....

[Grampa Dave]

Great time line of what is known.

Like Liz and I have noted, what is not on that time line that is not public knowledge?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Ok , added you to my Calgov2002 ping list.

[HoneyBoo]

thanks for this great info. Can you provide your thoughts on how someone could get started in a new career as a data-base administrator? I know basic MS office but that's about it. thanks!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well, the reports do not indicate the three major departments are even using it.

It is possible there is something going on at the University , College and Community College level.
There is a lot of computer upgrading occurring and they must be using one of the three databases.

[VA Advogado]

The crowd roars:KLAYMAN KLAYMAN KLAYMAN

This Oracle investigation sounds like a job for Larry.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

"I had no idea this contract was being negotiated," Davis said. "And I think most of you know, I'm barely on the information on-ramp, much less proficient in technology, so this is not a matter that would normally come to my attention, nor did it."

Shucks, I didn't know anything about it until I read it in the papers. Heh, heh." Sounds just like Slick and the Oracle founder is close to Slick and probably the reason that the fed sued MicroSoft. That, plus some sizable contributions to the DNC and Slick's Library slush fund. That pack of rats still runs together.

[Political Junkie Too]

Davis' mistake is that he didn't negotiate this deal in the same secret manner as the electricity contracts last year. If he had, this wouldn't be coming out until after the elections.

-PJ

[doug from upland]

Hey, everyone lies about oral sex. Everyone lies about Ora-cle.

[Drango]

thanks for this great info. Can you provide your thoughts on how someone could get started in a new career as a data-base administrator?

Get thee to the nearest college and take 2-3 SQL classes! Also, don't ignore the MCSE or the Unix side of the house if you want to be a DBA.

[Howlin]

Don't give him any ideas!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Ok , added you to my Calgov2002 ping list.

Me too! Me too! Thanks, MTR :O)

[inkling]

"We are working closely with the attorney general and negotiators to try and rescind this contract," Davis said.

First the energy providers, now Oracle. Why would any company sign a contract with this guy?!