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March 19, 2008
Once Again Offering AR's Services to Steve Peoples
The Providence Journal's Steve Peoples provides another scrapbook entry for the file illustrating how average folk around her develop such a skewed understanding of the state's operation:
Governor Carcieri has asked the state's highest court to strike down a law passed last year that he says threatens to paralyze Rhode Island government by blocking his ability to use private companies to conduct state business. ...The law requires state departments to conduct detailed cost comparisons before awarding contracts to private firms. It also requires that "the savings to the state is substantial," but does not define "substantial" savings. And the law gives "affected parties" — program recipients, state employees or unions — 60 days to appeal any privatization decision to a Superior Court judge.
The Democrat-dominated General Assembly has defended the law as an essential safeguard for ensuring savings.
"If the governor could prove by going through this process that he could save money, I would be standing next to him to support that," said Rep. Charlene Lima, D-Cranston, who had introduced the legislation for 13 consecutive years before it was approved close to midnight in the final days of the previous legislative session. "I just find it incredulous that the governor, in light of the great fiscal crisis we're facing, would be asking the Supreme Court about the constitutionality of a bill that would provide transparency and ensure that there's a taxpayers' savings."
As we've explained on this page before, requiring "state departments to conduct detailed cost comparisons" hardly does justice to what this law does. It stacks the deck for the unions, delays the process by months, and allows the General Assmbly to throw up road blocks.
The bill didn't make it into the law for thirteen years, until midnight on the even of our state's clearly looming fiscal crisis. One way or another, it ought to go.
About Community Crier
About Engaged Citizen
Actually, she ought to go.
Posted by: John at March 19, 2008 1:01 PMJustin,
I know of at least 1 State of RI employee whose total salary and benefits were 100% reimbursed by the federal government was replaced by a $78K temporary private company employee over 2 years ago.
Let’s see, you have a State of RI employee that is not costing the state and taxpayers anything because of the 100% federal reimbursement.
You have the option of replacing the employee with another State of RI employee which will continue to be 100% no cost to State of RI and taxpayers or utilizing a private company contract employee which the federal government will not reimburse because they are not state employees.
In a cost cutting and personnel savings move, State of RI selects the private company temporary employee contract.
Where is the cost savings to the state and yours and my tax dollar?
Where is the accountability and justification?
You can’t blame this State of RI stupidly on the unions!
Posted by: Ken at March 19, 2008 3:36 PM"Where is the cost savings to the state and yours and my tax dollar?"
Pension
Lifetime family healthcare
Nuff said.
Posted by: Greg at March 19, 2008 3:41 PMGreg,
"Where is the cost savings to the state and yours and my tax dollar?
Pension
Lifetime family healthcare
Nuff said."
EXCUSE ME!! The federal government was paying 100% of the salary and benefits (pension contributions) not the State of RI. The State of RI was providing the State employee!
Now you are paying over $78k extra a year in tax dollars more than what was spent before for a contractor.
This is just 1 case! How many more are there? Most of the 500 temps are making over $100K a year
"Nuff said!!" Wake up time or continue to blame the unions!!
Posted by: Ken at March 20, 2008 2:29 AMHey Ken, come back when you have some evidence to back up these insane claims.
Posted by: Greg at March 20, 2008 7:42 AMGreg,
"Hey Ken, come back when you have some evidence to back up these insane claims."
At one time in my life I was a State of RI employee having 100% salary and benefits (State of RI pension contributions) being reimbursed by the federal government for the federal program I managed.
That's why I know I'm not making an insane claim.
As I said, I know of one other person and newspaper accounts indicate there are more state positions being fully funded by the federal government.
PS; I'm fully retired but not receiving a State of RI pension because of my age and I pay my own healthcare and dental benefits.
Nuff said.
Posted by: Ken at March 20, 2008 4:56 PM