Big
win for PEF and taxpayers
Governor signs contract disclosure bill into law
By DEBORAH A. MILES
A cornerstone of PEF’s Go Public government accountability and
anti-privatization campaign — the Contract Disclosure Bill — is now law.
It was signed by Gov. George Pataki in March after it received overwhelming
support by the Legislature with a combined vote of 191 to 1.
But in 2005, the governor ignored the wishes of the Legislature, which
unanimously supported the opportunity to give New Yorkers a clear view of how
many contractors work for the state and how much they cost.
The governor’s veto came in the face of a vigorous GO Public lobbying campaign
that included a huge media blitz with statewide ads and TV spots.
Leading Capital District newspapers also sided with PEF’s position and reacted
to the veto with forceful editorials.
“The 2006 victory is a result of a multi-year campaign with roots that go back
to the ‘Cut State Waste, Not State Workers’ campaign,” said PEF President Roger
Benson.
The law will strengthen New York state’s oversight of contracts for consultant
services by requiring an annual report by the state Department of Civil Service
regarding the number of employees hired on a contract basis to perform services
for state agencies.
It will reveal the amount of public funds used to hire costly consultants for
computer programming, engineering, research, accounting and other professional
services.
“In many cases, state agencies hire consultants for long periods of time and pay
them fees far greater than it would cost to hire state employees to do the same
work. This new law will enable PEF and all New Yorkers to ask important
questions about why this wasteful spending is occurring,” Benson said.
The bill was sponsored by state Assembly Member Donna Lupardo and state Sen. Joe
Robach.
It is the third Go Public bill signed into law, since the campaign began in
2005.
The Communicator May 2007
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