Review of Privatization Contracts Needed

By Dennie Oxley
Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor

When Mitch Daniels first ran for Governor four years ago, he promised to stop the practice of state government hiring contractors from other states and countries to do work that Hoosiers could perform. He also pledged to keep more of our tax dollars in Indiana.

However, as Governor, he has done exactly the opposite - privatizing and outsourcing billions of dollars in state government assets and services to foreign and out-of-state corporations.

Governor Daniels has outsourced numerous state government responsibilities including the determination of welfare benefits, food stamps and Medicaid; the operation of a state prison; as well as various functions of the Indiana Departments of Workforce Development, Natural Resources and Administration.

And, who can forget his 75-year lease of the Indiana Toll Road to a foreign consortium? That private business will recoup its investment in 15-20 years, while Hoosiers lose out on income for the next 50 years.

Governor Daniels argues that privatization saves money and creates efficiencies - but to date, he has been unable to show us any proof. In fact, we all know his efforts have lead to dismal upkeep of state property, poor customer service, unnecessary denial of services, a riot at the New Castle Prison, and the federal government stepping in to halt the rollout of a privatized program.

How is this better than before? How has any of this saved money or created new efficiencies?

The answers to these questions are unclear.

It is for that reason that Jill and I oppose privatizing essential government services in the future. We don't believe it is right to tie the hands of generations of Hoosiers to come - and that's why we are calling for a complete review of all state contracts that have been privatized or outsourced in recent years.  

As Governor Jill will appoint a bi-partisan committee of Hoosiers from the business, labor, education, social service and government sectors to examine all state contracts and evaluate their effectiveness and cost savings. She has asked that I chair this committee and that we make recommendations to her on continuing or canceling existing agreements within the first 100 days of our administration.

Like most Hoosiers, Jill and I think it is time to take another look at these contracts and the performance of these vendors. As Indiana's next Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Jill and I will carefully scrutinize each of them to find ways that we can demand better service or cancel agreements that just don't make sense for Hoosier taxpayers.

We are committed to rebuilding Indiana's struggling economy, while making sure state government is operating effectively and efficiently; that it is truly serving the people who are paying for it; and that we are using our precious tax dollars in the best ways possible to create good-paying jobs and new economic opportunities for all Hoosiers.

Source: Hoosiers for Jill Long Thompson