Headlines
1. The FBI deputizes business
2. Calif toll road voted down
3. NJ Assembly GOP rejects Corzine toll plan
4. UT: Panel OKs bill on privatizing some services
5. Cleveland can’t replace police at Hopkins airport with private security, judge rules
6. Group criticizes Akron’s sewage privatization plan
News Summaries
1. The FBI deputizes business
The Progressive magazine has an article examining the growing phenomena of government outsourcing to private security companies: "Today, more than 23,000 representatives of private industry are working quietly with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. The members of this rapidly growing group, called InfraGard, receive secret warnings of terrorist threats before the public does—and, at least on one occasion, before elected officials. In return, they provide information to the government, which alarms the ACLU. But there may be more to it than that. One business executive, who showed me his InfraGard card, told me they have permission to “shoot to kill†in the event of martial law."
2. Calif toll road voted down
After hearing testimony and deliberating for more than 12 hours, the California Coastal Commission yesterday voted 8-2 to deny a proposed toll road that would cut across a habitat reserve in Orange County and San Onofre State Beach next to Camp Pendleton. The panel decided that certain aspects of the project failed to meet California’s coastal regulations. Their vote prohibited transportation officials from creating the first tollway to run through a state par, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
3. NJ Assembly GOP rejects Corzine toll plan
Newsday reports that a leading Democrat and all 49 legislative Republicans on Thursday promised to oppose Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s plan to significantly increase highway tolls to pay state debt and fund transportation. Sen. John Adler, D-Camden, vowed to vote against Corzine’s plan. "Increasing highway tolls would inflict yet another financial hardship on our hardworking taxpayers, and I oppose it," Adler said. "We should not even consider asking for one more penny from those taxpayers until Trenton assumes its share of sacrifice and makes serious cuts in government spending."
4. UT: Panel OKs bill on privatizing some services
A bill to make sure state agencies aren’t doing a job private business should do passed out of committee Thursday, reports the Desert Morning News. HB75 would force most state agencies to create an inventory of commercial activities the government is providing. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Craig Frank, R-Pleasant Grove, also wants to expand both the authority and size of the current government privatization policy board to "review whether or not certain services performed by existing state agencies could be privatized to provide the same types and quality of services that would result in cost savings." The bill is one of three aimed at privatizing some government activities.
5. Cleveland can’t replace police at Hopkins airport with private security, judge rules
Mayor Frank Jackson has lost a battle with the city’s police unions over replacing 45 officers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with a private security force, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy A. Fuerst ruled Wednesday that the city’s plan conflicts with state law because the security officers would be given arrest powers. In a 12-page ruling, Fuerst stated that state law does not allow the city to give police authority to a private company.
6. Group criticizes Akron’s sewage privatization plan
One national wastewater organization Thursday voiced concern about Akron’s proposal to sell off its sewage system. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies in Washington, D.C., is firmly opposed to privatizing public utilities, said Susan Bruninga, director of public and legislative affairs. The fear is that the prices paid by consumers for water or sewer will soar because private companies must make enough money to operate the utility plus satisfy their shareholders, Bruninga said, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
Reports / Resources
GAO Report: Highway Public-Private Partnerships: More Rigorous Up-front Analysis Could Better Secure Potential Benefits and Protect the Public Interest. GAO-08-44, February 8, 2008, http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-44 Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0844high.pdf
GotGov? Website: AFSCME Council 5’s GotGov? website provides information and resources for fighting privatization. Special sections for transportation, corrections and care givers including anti-privatization advertisements.
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