Headlines
1. Passport breaches fuel concerns
2. PA: No-bid contract criticism spreads
3. PA: Port Authority drivers wary of outsourcing
4. Georgia gears up for infrastructure outsourcing
5. CA: High-speed rail backers hope adding private investors to bond measure will avoid delays
6. SC: Privatization of wastewater treatment plants raises concerns about upkeep and sprawl
7. SC: Gov. Sanford not surprised by port-sale breakup
8. MS: Private prison should be ready by December


News Summaries
1. Passport breaches fuel concerns
The State Department said an employee and staff from two private
contractors made unauthorized searches of the passport files of all
three remaining presidential candidates, stoking concerns about
Washington’s data-security measures.One contractor is Stanley Inc., of
Arlington, Va., which has worked with the department for more than 15
years. Stanley relies entirely on the federal government for its business,
with two-thirds of its contracts coming from defense and intelligence agencies.
In 2006, the company won a 10-year State Department contract, initially valued
at $164 million, for passport administration. That contract was the
company’s largest revenue generator in 2007, accounting for
approximately 15% of Stanley’s revenue of $409.4 million for its fiscal
year ended March 31, 2007. The Wall Street Journal
2. PA: No-bid contract criticism spreads
Penn. Gov. Ed Rendell has awarded more than $1 billion in contracts
without seeking competitive bids, state records show. "The dollar
figures have almost been eye-popping," state Rep. Doug Reichley,
R-Allentown, Lehigh County, said. Reichley is among an increasing
number of lawmakers upset with Rendell’s use of no-bid contracts,
especially those tied to the governor’s proposed lease of the
Pennsylvania Turnpike. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
3. PA: Port Authority drivers wary of outsourcing
Port Authority of Allegheny County officials declined to disclose their
goals in negotiations with the 4,800 employees and retirees represented
by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. But during the last round of
labor talks in 2005, the authority unsuccessfully sought to outsource
20 percent of its system. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
4. Georgia gears up for infrastructure outsourcing
The state of Georgia has begun prequalifying companies to bid on its
massive statewide information technology outsourcing project. Washington
Technology
5. CA: High-speed rail backers hope adding private investors to bond measure will avoid delays
Democratic lawmakers have agreed to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
request to include public-private partnerships for a high-speed train
that could travel from either San Francisco or Sacramento to Los
Angeles in 2 1/2 hours. The Sacramento Bee
6. SC: Privatization of wastewater treatment plants raises concerns about upkeep and sprawl
Next Tuesday, the COG’s Special Wastewater Issues Committee is expected
to make a recommendation about whether or not to condone private
wastewater treatment plants, often called "package plants," a move that
could have significant implications on growth and development in the
Lowcountry’s rural areas. Charleston City Paper
7. SC: Gov. Sanford not surprised by port-sale breakup
Last week’s collapse of the Port of Port Royal deal came as no surprise
to Gov. Mark Sanford, who said the debacle is indicative of what he
uncovered during his research into the developer and the need to
privatize aspects of state government. The Gazette (Beaufort)
8. MS: Private prison should be ready by December
Officials say construction is about 60 percent complete at a new
private prison in southwest Mississippi. The facility will be run by
Nashville-based Corrections Corporation of America and will hold low-
to medium-security federal prisoners. WBIR.com