Look for savings, not revenue

Those who cannot imagine an actual reduction in the size and expense of state government often ask--as if it’s a clinching argument--‘So where would you cut?’

For nearly a decade I have done my best to fight unnecessary spending, from CTFastrak to the Board of Regents to recent and unbelievable Hartford bailout. These are all big-ticket items that the legislature had the power to avoid or eliminate.

But I have always said that still greater savings could be achieved by effective executive leadership with the vision and determination to restructure the bureaucracy. A fearless governor with like-minded commissioners is needed to make the cuts this crisis requires, and find the savings available in the operation of government.

Some of those savings are begging for our attention. Take the report this session by the state Contracting Standards Board, which concludes that simply by following existing rules for competitive bidding of contracts we could save roughly a quarter-billion dollars a year.

According to the report, more than half of all state service contracts are awarded to favored vendors without competitive bidding. Waivers are routinely granted to permit this violation of state guidelines.

“There is little clear direction from the executive and legislative branches of state government over important procurement practices for state employees,” the report states. “There are plenty of rules and regulations guiding procurement activities which are found in many statewide and agency publications, but there is no clear overriding directive on how to maximize the value to the state of each dollar spent.

“Cost savings appear to be far down the priority list in qualifying a contractor for some state agencies. The culture seems to be ‘just get the job done and keep the operation going.’”

The report finds that by not putting large directservice contracts out to bid, potential bidders simply disappear, and in time only a single source is available—guaranteeing high costs. Even when there’s a bid, onerous requirements too often make it difficult for smaller firms to respond and compete.

At a moment when our government is desperate for money, this eye-opening report seemed to make no impression. Instead, the governor and his legislative majority continue to seek new revenue, by raising existing taxes, creating new ones like tolls, and by embracing risky propositions like marijuana legalization and gambling expansion.

Connccticut needs leadership that looks for savings, not revenue; that embraces sensible ideas that increase competition and reduce costs; and that is willing to shake up a sometimes stagnant and inefficient bureaucracy. Voters must choose a new governor this fall. I urge them to find a person who believes—as I do—that we must change the way government does business. Competitive bidding is a simple step we should take immediately.