Headlines
NY: NYC pondering privatizing parking meters
IL: Chicago privatizing teacher evaluations?
MI: Commentary: Don’t buy the push to privatize Michigan’s prisons
CA: Costa Mesa continues outsourcing efforts
America’s helium privatization fiasco
A radical idea to transform what kids learn in school
Public employees may choose between raises and job protections
Private sector edges deeper in space
Congressman defends call to dismantle GSA
Should states be in the liquor business?
NY: NYC pondering privatizing parking meters
NYC is reportedly looking at different models, specifically ones that would allow the city to continue to control the rates at the thousands of metered parking spaces in the city (as of 2010 there were 31,725 muni-meters in town and 50,150 single space meters). Plus, we aren’t looking to close a budget gap with a lump payment, as Chicago was when it made its deal with the devil. Gothamist
IL: Chicago privatizing teacher evaluations?
The most controversial teacher evaluation system in Illinois history is moving forward at lightning speed in what appears to be a secret privatization agreement between Brizard’s administration and a controversial Ohio corporation that specializes in public relations work for the controversial “value added” approach to teacher evaluations….Teachers are going to be required to submit what should be confidential CPS information to a private corporation which has not been publicly identified until now. Democratic Underground
MI: Commentary: Don’t buy the push to privatize Michigan’s prisons
What does it say about us as a society that the largest growing expense of state and local governments today is corrections systems? In the Michigan Legislature the drumbeat for privatization has reached a fevered pitch during the past year. Under the auspices of cost savings, an agenda has been set into motion that does nothing to improve the public good, but works wonders for the profit margins of Republican corporate campaign funders. Detroit Free Press
CA: Costa Mesa continues outsourcing efforts
The Costa Mesa City Council will consider Tuesday whether to outsource five city services, more than a year since the wheels were first set in motion amid furious protests from city workers and local activists. Daily Post
America’s helium privatization fiasco
It sounds funny, but the growing helium crisis in the United States is only partially a laughing matter. The gas is needed for not only party balloons, but also an array of industrial purposes and if we run out it’s a problem. Brad Plumer has the story, but it’s really just a special case of the all-too-common problem of privatization gone wrong…In 1996 when Congress decided that the United States did not need a giant strategic helium reserve, Chris Cox, R.-Calif., and his colleagues passed a Helium Privatization Act that ordered the helium supplies to be sold down at a formula-driven price rather than auctioned. That price has turned out to be way below the market rate. That’s encouraging overconsumption of helium, discouraging new helium production, and all-in-all creating a big helium shortage. It’s a mess. But this kind of thing is a problem you see over and over again. Slate
A radical idea to transform what kids learn in school
Exxon-Mobil is airing education-reform television ads. In the one I’ve seen most often, implicit and explicit messages are simple and clear: (a) We live in a dangerous, technologically complex world. (b) Our lives, liberties, and happiness hinge on our ability to cope with that world. (c) Coping requires mastery of math. (d) On standardized math tests, America ranks 25th in the world. (e) Be ashamed and afraid. (f) Get behind corporate education reform efforts. Washington Post
Public employees may choose between raises and job protections
State employees in a number of states are expecting to soon see their first pay bumps in years. But for workers in Arizona and Virginia, those bonuses or salary increases may come with conditions. Governing
Private sector edges deeper in space
But the new space companies are relying on taxpayer dollars to finance their research and development. The Obama administration requested $830 million for next year to finance the development of passenger-carrying spacecraft. Proponents argue that the investments will jump-start a vibrant new business that dwarfs NASA; Congress has so far remained skeptical. A report by the House committee in charge of NASA’s budget said the program ran the “risk of repeating the government’s experience from last year’s bankruptcy of the solar energy firm Solyndra.” The New York Times
Congressman defends call to dismantle GSA
Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) caused a stir when he advocated abolishing the General Services Administration. But he managed to unite a wide array of GSA defenders in the process. FCW
Should states be in the liquor business?
Several states that tightly control liquor sales are debating whether to turn them over to the private sector. Stateline