Headlines
NJ: Privatizing parts of N.J. park system stirs debate
FL: Editorial: Protect the public’s money
FL: Prison privatization plan will go to Budget panel
VA: Virginia to sell highway, bridge naming rights
PA: Former CEO of charter school pleads guilty to theft of taxpayer funds
WA: Pierce County judges suggest privatizing offender supervision
NE: Lawmakers seek better child welfare information
Consumer group opposes USDA’s privatization of poultry inspection

News summaries
NJ: Privatizing parts of N.J. park system stirs debate
A chain restaurant in Wharton State Forest. A Ferris wheel at Liberty State Park. Weddings, flea markets, and corporate events taking over New Jersey’s historic sites and scenic lands. That could be the future if the state goes forward with plans to privatize parts of its park system, some warn…The changes, made public in October, will be implemented gradually, officials said, as part of a long-term strategy to keep the parks open by making them more self-sustaining…Eventually, the state would like two-thirds of the system’s annual operation budget to come from outside sources…The problem, Tittel said, is “what happens down the road when private vendors take over park functions. They’re not professionals and don’t have the same level of caring for the parks,” he said. “Who’s screening them? Will valuables walk away? Then, there’s the loss of access,” he said. “If you can make more money on a Saturday afternoon renting out a park area, then the public doesn’t have access.” Philadelphia Inquirer

FL: Editorial: Protect the public’s money
The Florida Senate is moving forward on privatization, a plan to outsource public functions of government to save money, our money. Two bills — one a revival of a prison plan shot down in court last year on privatizing some of the state’s prisons and the other, a general plan for state government agencies — are headed to debate in at least three Senate committees this session. Both bills got the approval to move forward in the legislative process on Wednesday by the Senate Rules Committee…SB 7172 would not require a business plan or public comment before a state agency made its decision. Instead, that would come after the contract is signed. What? That’s tantamount to secrecy. And that goes against Florida’s open government laws and the citizens’ right of access in the state Constitution. While privatization may be a good idea, it is a bad idea when it is cloaked in so much secrecy that it smacks of backroom deals. To allow that is to go backwards in time to when Florida did not have a Sunshine Law requiring most meetings of governments to be open. St. Augustine Record

FL: Prison privatization plan will go to Budget panel
Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Friday he will send a controversial prison-privatization plan to another committee for review — but stopped short of fulfilling a request by Sen. Mike Fasano for greater scrutiny…”In my opinion a subject as complex as prison privatization should have been referred to the substantive committees that oversee this subject matter (i.e. Criminal Justice, Governmental Oversight and Accountability and Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations),” wrote Fasano, chairman of the Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. “The Senate has a rich history as a deliberative body that examines and allows for full vetting of proposed policy changes both major and minor.” Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, released a memo a short time later saying he would send the primary privatization bill (SB 2038) to the Budget Committee, which is chaired by Sen. JD Alexander, a chief proponent of privatization. The Ledger

VA: Virginia to sell highway, bridge naming rights
Gov McDonnell on Friday authorized the Commonwealth Transportation Board to sell naming rights for the state’s transportation infrastructure. That means private entities, for an annual fee, will be able to place their name on highways, interchanges, bridges and other infrastructure. The money would then go to the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund. The General Assembly has to approve the plan.  The CTB also has to create the rules, fees and revenue projections for the plan. Think it’s a groundbreaking idea? Not really. Last year McDonnell offered up the naming rights to its 42 rest stops and welcome centers. NBC4

PA: Former CEO of charter school pleads guilty to theft of taxpayer funds
The former chief executive officer of a charter school in Northwest Philadelphia pleaded guilty Friday to stealing more than $500,000 in taxpayer funds intended for the school. Ina M. Walker, the onetime top official of New Media Technology Charter School, appeared Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court and told Judge Jan E. DuBois that she wanted to change her plea to guilty to theft and fraud charges.
In her plea agreement, Walker, 59, of West Mount Airy, admitted to all 28 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, theft from a federally funded program, and bank fraud…Last spring, a federal grand jury returned a 27-count indictment alleging that Clark and Walker stole $522,000 intended for the New Media charter to pay expenses at Lotus Academy, a small private school they controlled; to fund personal businesses, including the Black Olive and a nearby health-food store; and for personal expenses, including meals and credit-card bills. Philadelphia Inquirer

WA: Pierce County judges suggest privatizing offender supervision
Some Pierce County Superior Court judges say state cuts in supervision of felons the last few years have made their courts too busy with offenders who remain under the court’s review, and could increase the risk to public safety if those offenders commit new crimes. Judge Frank Cuthbertson said discussions are under way among judges and attorneys about Pierce County contracting with a private company to supervise offenders after they’re released from prison. And some state lawmakers have discussed counties taking on the state’s cost of supervising offenders after incarceration. Pierce County Council member Dick Muri says “no” to both ideas. “It’s not a county responsibility,” said Muri, a member of the council’s public safety and human services committee. “We don’t have the money to do supervision.”
Muri said he’s also concerned about cuts in community supervision. But taking on that responsibility would put the county at risk for lawsuits if felons commit new crimes, he said. The News Tribune

NE: Lawmakers seek better child welfare information
..On Thursday, the Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing on a bill that would return many case management duties to state employees. The two lead agencies have opposed the bill, calling it a step backward, and Gov. Dave Heineman has hinted his opposition. The privatization move began when the state signed contracts with five lead agencies to offer and coordinate child services statewide. Three providers in northern, western and central Nebraska have since dropped out, citing financial problems, which forced the state and the remaining lead agencies to take over their cases. Heineman has said the move toward privatizing services to children who suffer from abuse or neglect, as well as behavioral and mental health problems, hasn’t gone as well as he hoped. But the governor has repeatedly opposed a return to the old system that relied more on state employees. The Republic

Consumer group opposes USDA’s privatization of poultry inspection
The Secretary of Agriculture and Undersecretary for Food Safety announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) plan to proceed with a program that would privatize the inspection of poultry products in the United States. Food & Water Watch vehemently opposes this plan and any other attempts to privatize food safety functions that are the responsibility of the federal government. “This proposal is unacceptable and violates the department’s legal obligation to protect consumers by inspecting every carcass and every bird produced in USDA-inspected plants,” said Food & Water Watch executive director Wenonah Hauter. NorthcentralPa.com