LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN — PEF President Roger Benson explains the Go Public publicity campaign to reporters at the Legislative Office Building in Albany. The campaign includes print ads and television commercials that will run through June.
— Photo by Deborah A. Miles
‘Fat cat’ ads blitz message
Go Public campaign sounds call for
reform
| By
DARCY WELLS The mid-April tax deadline was used to highlight PEF’s Go Public campaign as it shifted into high gear. At a press conference in Albany to formally announce the campaign for greater accountability to New York taxpayers in the award of state contracts, PEF President Roger Benson called on state leaders to enact pending legislation to curb abuses and “shine the bright light of public scrutiny on state contracting, privatization and shadow government.” In presenting a preview of PEF’s new Go Public television commercials at the press conference, Benson said, “These ads will serve as a wake-up call to each and every state lawmaker who should recognize that now is the time to stop wasting tax dollars.”  ‘Fat cat’ ads call for reform The ads feature a “fat cat” to hammer-home the point that private consultants and contractors are wasting tax dollars that add up to $250 million every year. The ads will be aired nearly 4,000 times in the Capital Region on the days the state Legislature is in session until mid-June, to remind state lawmakers to pass these bills and protect New York’s taxpayers and public services. The expenditure is part of the $1 million Go Public campaign approved by the PEF Executive Board in March, which also includes print ads in The New York Times, New York Post, (Albany) Times Union, (Schenectady) Daily Gazette, (Rochester) Democrat & Chronicle, (Syracuse) Post Standard, The Buffalo News and (Binghamton) Press & Sun-Bulletin. The high profile ad campaign alone will not be enough to get the legislation passed and signed into law, Benson said.  “We need to mobilize all of our members to get on board with this campaign,” he said, “which is our best hope of preserving state services and state jobs. PEF members and everyone who cares about accountable government and quality public services should visit our Go Public Web site at www.stopprivatization.com to get informed and then contact state lawmakers to let them know how dangerous the giveaway of state services to contractors and shadow agencies has become.”  Get
ready to rally June 8Planning is underway for a June 8 Go Public rally “like-no-other” on the steps of the Capitol in Albany. PEF is going all-out for the lunchtime event with live music, food and giveaways in one final push for the Go Public legislation for this legislative session. Top state leaders have been invited to speak at the rally and to hear PEF’s message that state government needs to be held accountable and the Go Public Accountability Bills will do just that. Regional forums in May Regional forums are being scheduled to further educate state lawmakers and the public. PEF will show its new Go Public DVD that reinforces the need for the accountability bills, educational kits will be distributed and, at some forums, members will tell how contracting-out has affected them and other state employees. The forums are already scheduled in many regions. Region 1, for instance, will hold its forum Thursday evening, May 19, at Harry’s Harbour Place, 2192 Niagara St. in Buffalo. Be sure to check with your PEF regional office for details on the forum nearest you.  They got mail PEF has already mailed campaign materials, including postcards of its print ads, Go Public fact sheets and other information to state lawmakers, policymakers, and PEF local leaders, including delegates and stewards to further spread the message. The DVDs will also be going out to the legislators and others. Stop privatization online Members and other visitors to www.stopprivatization.com will find reports of taxpayer abuse through the state’s use of costly private contractors and consultants. The site also includes a sample letter to elected officials urging the passage of the Go Public accountability bills. Adapt this letter or write and send your own message to your state legislators. “This campaign is in full swing,” Benson said. “Two of the bills have already passed at least one house in the Legislature and the others are gaining momentum every day. “Passage of these bills is essential to reform state government and finally expose the dark underbelly of privatization,” he said. “It’s time to level the playing field with a fair, open and accountable comparison between work that is contracted-out and the quality work of state employees.” |
Go
Public Accountability Bills: - A.1259/S.3923 would require state agencies to analyze and compare the cost and benefits of contracting work out versus having state employees do it, before awarding a contract. This bill is important to ensure agencies and the public know the true cost of government services. Status (mid-April): A.1259 is in the Assembly Government Operations Committee and S.3923 is in the Senate Finance Committee. - A.6542/S.1920 would require reporting and public disclosure of information about state contracts, including the names of the contractors, the total cost of the contracts, the number of contract employees and how many hours they are working. This bill is important to ensure the public knows the true size of state government. Status: A.6542 is in the Assembly Government Employees Committee. S.1920 has passed the state Senate. - A.5626 would establish a temporary state commission on public authorities to review 730 state and local authorities and decide which ones should continue, be merged into state agencies or eliminated. It would substantially increase the accountability and transparency of public authorities and help reduce waste and inefficiency at the authorities. Status: A.5626 has passed the Assembly and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee. - A.9c would increase the information lobbyists must disclose about their efforts to influence the award of state contracts. S.3173 has been introduced in the Senate. It is not the same as A.9c, but has a similar purpose. Since the state spends billions of tax dollars annually on contracts for goods and services, it is vitally important that efforts to influence who gets these contracts be subject to public scrutiny. Status: A9c has passed the Assembly. S.3173 is in the Senate Finance Committee. — Sherry Halbrook |
The
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