LA: Prison sale off the table, but hurdles remain for privatization
NY: Civic coalition seeks greater public oversight of sewage privatization
Why public-private toll roads won’t work
Stop push to privatize Social Security
LA: Prison sale off the table, but hurdles remain for privatization
A proposal to privatize Avoyelles Correctional Center appears to be in trouble, as House members in favor of the measure sought Wednesday to shore up support by dropping a planned sale of the facility. Bolstering the argument that there may not be enough support for House Bill 850, which would seek proposals for privatizing the prison, was Rep. Henry Burns’ decision to put off a vote on the bill after stripping language that would have sold the building and land to the company that would take over the prison. “I think if you have the votes, you move the bill. Apparently, he didn’t,” said Rep. Robert Johnson, who represents the district that includes the prison and has been the most vocal critic of the privatization plan. Burns, R-Haughton, said the measure, “certainly has a much better opportunity now” that the prison won’t be sold. But he acknowledged that not all of the 61 House members who voted to make the bill more palatable by dropping the sale would support privatizing the facility. Burns said he will bring the bill back in about a week, after lawmakers have a chance to mull the reduced proposal. NOLA.com
NY: Civic coalition seeks greater public oversight of sewage privatization
On Monday, the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature’s rules committee approved by a party-line 4-3 vote a personal service contract with Wall Street giant Morgan Stanley to broker a deal for the county to privatize its sewage treatment system. The three companies who responded to the county’s Request for Proposal process to operate the plants include British sewage treatment system supplier Severn Trent PLC; Paris-based Veolia Environment SA, which has its American headquarters in Lombard, Ill.; and United Water, Inc. of Harrington Park. “We believe that the public oversight is necessary to protect residents from a potential increase in cost to taxpayers, maintain local control and protect the environment, health and safety for the public,” said Raymond Pagano, president of the Oceanside Civic Association, who was appointed to the NCCCA’s executive board representing Region 4 in southwest Nassau County. Patch.com
Why public-private toll roads won’t work
It’s hard to disagree with much of what a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) editorial advocates, like making the highway fund solvent, returning gas tax money sent to Washington back to the states, and loosening the federal strings attached to road money. However, where they’re missing the boat is this notion that private money will be the silver bullet to fix road revenue shortfalls and provide what’s often called ‘gap funding.’ There’s a hefty price that comes with seeking private money to build public roads using public private partnerships (P3s), as well as loss of sovereignty and control over the surrounding free routes (through non-competes clauses that prohibit or penalize expansion of free roads). Not only are toll rates on these privatized roads punitively higher than public toll roads (75 cents a mile versus 12-15 cents per mile on a public toll road), heaps of taxpayer money subsidize these government-sanctioned monopolies (so having to pay a toll, too, is DOUBLE TAXATION). San Antonio Transportation Policy Examiner
Stop push to privatize Social Security
Recent plans discussed on Capitol Hill include privatizing Social Security. With private accounts tied to the Stock Market, returns would not be guaranteed, as they are now. Seniors’ savings could disappear over night and take years to rebuild after a market decline. There’s also the risk of outliving your investments—something that can never happen with Social Security. Act now to protect your Social Security benefits. Join us in the fight to save your retirement income. The National Committee believes that Social Security is a critical safety net meant to protect everyone and it should not become a windfall for Wall Street. Social Security is the foundation of a secure retirement. It’s designed to protect against poverty in old age and it’s one of the most successful programs in U.S. history. Privatization is NOT a plan to save Social Security; it’s a plan to kill it. We need your support now! Add your voice to the National Committee’s by joining its efforts to protect these crucial benefits. National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare