http://www.computeruser.com/news/01/05/14/news9.html By Robert MacMillan and David McGuire May 14, 2001 Arizona Gov. Jane Hull, R, vetoed legislation approved by the state legislature that would have established a critical infrastructure protection plan for the state. Although the legislature approved the bill, a veto appeared all but certain once state Chief Information Officer Rick Zelznak signaled his opposition last week. Despite its good intentions, the legislation "sets up a command and control structure," that could cause more problems than it solves, Zelznak said in a recent interview. Drafted by Arizona State Rep. Wes Marsh, R, the legislation authorizes the creation of a Statewide Infrastructure Protection Center (SIPC) that would be charged with safeguarding Arizona's electronic and physical infrastructure (everything from dams to secure computer networks) in "emergency situations." Marsh, who called his legislation the first in the country to marry electronic and physical infrastructure protection measures, said that the bill and others like it are vital to protecting citizens and their governments. "One little laptop can cause more trouble than a nuclear bomb," Marsh said last week. But while Zelznak echoed Marsh's general concerns about infrastructure security, he questioned the approach of the legislation, which would ensconce the Arizona National Guard as the lead agency in protecting Arizona's critical infrastructure. "What this bill does is over-emphasize the role of the Department of Defense," Zelznak said. Zelznak also expressed concern that the legislation calls for an extensive infrastructure protection apparatus without providing a means to pay for it. ISN is hosted by SecurityFocus.com --- To unsubscribe email isn-unsubscribeat_private
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