Doyle's Republican Moment

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that Governor Doyle wants to lift the cost analysis of state contracts. This is not a good thing, as that it opens the door for more gouges like the one that Dan Cody had discovered regarding the CFIS website.

Not only that, but contracted work (read privatization) often is more expensive than when the work is done by public sector workers. From the MJS article:

Doyle signed the contracting law three years ago, after the Journal Sentinel identified problem-plagued contracts.

In one case, the Department of Transportation tripled its costs when it handed over the management of its road sign inventory to HNTB Corp. The department canceled that $165,000 contract in 2004 amid public criticism.

In another case, state auditors discovered officials never independently analyzed a claim by Crowe Chizek & Co. that consolidating computer servers would save $15.6 million. The state hired Crowe in 2004 but fired the company in 2007 when it found none of the savings would be realized.

I've also often pointed out that since Tommy Thompson, with the help of Alberta Darling and Scott Walker, privatized child welfare in Milwaukee County, the price has increased by tens of millions of dollars.

We also go through this every year during the County budget battles when County Executive Scott Walker wants to privatize everything in sight, regardless of how much more expensive it would be. That call center is a prime example, and look how well that turned out for us.

For some reason, I don't expect the unionophobes to be lining up to apologize for their inane comments though.

Tips of the crown to Dan Cody and to Owen Robinson (who I think totally misunderstood the article).