Support the Public Service Accountability Act

Take action to ensure accountability and transparency in contracting out.

Send this message to:

Governor Jennifer Granholm (if you live in Michigan)
Your Representative (if you live in Michigan)
Your State Senator (if you live in Michigan)

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I am writing to urge your support and co-sponsorship of the Public Service Accountability legislation recently introduced by Representative Miller, House Bill 6111.  The Public Service Accountability Act implements a reasonable framework and oversight of a state departments decision to contract work out.  Ensuring accountability and transparency of these decisions not only to the legislature but the taxpayers as well.

The Public Service Accountability provides that before any efforts to privatize, a department must do a thorough cost/benefit analysis demonstrating an actual cost saving to the state.  The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will have the opportunity to review this analysis and approve the proposal.  It also provides that any contractor that receives funding from the state shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act and a comprehensive audit similar to any state department and its employees.

The recent trend of privatizing for the sake of privatizing is not sound public policy and more times than not, it ends up costing taxpayers more money and state employees their jobs.  A 1998 Senate Fiscal Agency report on the use of private contractors in state government found that "most activities privatized...did not result in cost savings to the state of Michigan."  It is simply not true that the private sector is always more efficient and cost effective than state employees. This is because private "for-profit" companies' bottom line is always to make a profit and not delivery quality services.  In fact, throughout the 1990's there are numerous examples of failed privatization initiatives that ended up costing the state more money.

Based upon the above I urge your support of the Public Service Accountability Act, which will ensure transparency and accountability in the state's decisions to contract work out.  Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Complete the following to send this message and sign-up to receive periodic updates. If you have participated before, just type in your email address and set your prefix, then submit the form.

Email:*

Prefix:*

First Name:*

Last Name:*

Address Line 1:*

Address Line 2:

City:*

State:

ZIP/Postal Code:*

Country:*

* Required Field