Commentary

Sensless Attack on Federal Privatization Continues

As Government Executive puts it “lawmakers continue to pound public-private job competitions.” An amendment to the 2010 DoD authorization bill would put a stop to competitions giving private firms a chance to win away from government workers contracts to perform commercial services.

Competitions under the rules in the Office of Management and Budget’s Circular A-76 “have not been proven to save the taxpayer enough money to justify the enormous strain they put on government offices and personnel,” said Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., the amendment’s sponsor. “We cannot continue to distract individual commands at a time when the services are focused on two wars, trying to implement the 2005 [base realignment and closure] round, and undergoing transformational initiatives.”

I’d laugh if I could stop crying. Oh, pity the poor federal workers who might have to prove their efficiency once every few years. The strain is just to much. I’m sure all of you out there who don’t work for the government and have to compete for your job every stinking day at work feel nothing but sympathy. Only members of Congress, themselves completely divorced from the reality of life in the private sector, could fall for this line of baloney from federal employee unions.

And “have not been proven to save the taxpayers enough money”??!! Last I looked, competitive sourcing had saved $7.2 billion over the last 5 years. How much is enough, Congressman Langevin?

This is a program that works, and it will work better as the government gets better at doing it. It will lead to more and better services and taxpayer savings. The only opponents are the public employee unions. Let’s hope Congress comes to its senses and puts our interests ahead of those of federal workers.