Some tech groups are beginning to worry that major IT industry priorities, including patent reform, may lose out to other priorities in the U.S. Congress this year.

In the last couple of weeks, large tech companies have renewed their push for patent reform legislation in the United States Congress, despite opposition from U.S. President George Bush's administration and some labor unions.

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is concerned that a congressional debate over an economic stimulus package, plus typical election-year gridlock, could hurt the prospects for patent reform and other tech priorities, said Michael Wendy, a spokesman for the trade group.

The House of Representatives' economic stimulus package includes tax write-offs for small business purchase of equipment, which could include computers, Wendy said. That's a good move, but patent reform, a research and development tax credit, H-1B visa reform and other issues remain undone, he said.

"We hope that Congress -- assuming they pass an [economic stimulus] package -- doesn't just say, 'Well, we gave you some favorable tax provisions that will help boost industry activity and have a long-tail effect on the economy, so that should be enough for you guys this session,'" Wendy said last week. "One thing we're concerned about is that the economic stimulus bill may be seen by Congress as a 'get out of jail free' card when it comes to other of our tech policy agenda."

The House in September passed a patent reform bill -- supported by many large tech vendors, but opposed by several small tech companies -- but similar legislation has been stalled in the Senate. Large tech vendors, including Microsoft, IBM and Symantec, have called for patent reform, saying it's too easy for companies with no intention of creating products to buy up patents and file multimillion-dollar infringement lawsuits against other companies.

On Jan. 22, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said patent reform was a priority, but it was in a line behind several other bills, including an economic stimulus package and a government surveillance authorization bill. The Senate would turn to patent reform, "time permitting," he said then.

"On patent reform, we must carefully strike the right balance with a bill that promotes rather than blocks innovation from enterprising entrepreneurs," Reid added.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.

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