No place for favoritism in state contracts

No place for favoritism in state contracts

Recent investigations into how state officials have handled some
government contracts raise serious concerns about the state's
tolerance for favoritism and possible ethical violations. The worst
examples may be those in the Department of Children & Families, but
issues at the State Technology Office and Public Service Commission
are worrisome, too.

All three cases are different, but one question must be asked: Is the
state doing enough to discourage and eradicate cronyism, poor
contracting processes and dubious ethics? At a time when Florida's
privatizing boom means billions in potential state contracts,
taxpayers need to be assured that accountability standards and
purchasing safeguards are top priorities.

Investigators' report

Here is what state investigators have found in recent weeks:

• A report by Florida's auditor harshly criticized the State
Technology Office for violating state purchasing laws in contracting
out $300 million last year. Among the contracts: a $2 million deal
with Accenture to crunch the data for removing felons from voting
rolls. The state recently abandoned this list after reports in The
Herald and other media described numerous flaws. Accenture lobbyists
included a former top aide to Gov. Jeb Bush and a former Florida GOP
chairman.

The report says that the office can't prove that its privatization
efforts will save tax dollars. The office was criticized for similar
activities in a 2003 audit. A spokesperson for the governor says that
the technology office is renegotiating the contracts to make them more
cost effective. That is essential to restoring trust.

• A Florida Commission on Ethics investigation found that four Public
Service commissioners may have violated state law by attending events
sponsored by companies and utilities that the PSC regulates. The
events -- meals, receptions, a golf tournament and deep-sea fishing --
took place at a 2002 regulators meeting. Event sponsors included
BellSouth, Verizon, Sprint and WorldCom. These phone-industry players
pushed for a telecom bill approved by the Legislature the following
year. Bill provisions later came before the PSC. At issue is a big
increase in residential phone rates for Floridians. The ethics case is
pending further investigation by a state administrative hearing
officer.

• A report by the state Office of Inspector General found unethical
conduct at the highest levels of the DCF. The report described an
agency mired in cronyism and influence peddling and an agency head,
Jerry Regier, who dismissed the complaints of loyal aides who warned
about possible ethical improprieties. Two top DCF officials resigned.
They had steered contracts to well-connected vendors who showered them
with gifts and favors. Gov. Bush says that the issue with Mr. Regier
is one of perception and that Mr. Regier is taking action to fix the
problem.

Perception matters

Interviewed last week about Mr. Regier, Mr. Bush said: ''If a guy is
being accused of paying for concert tickets and going to a concert, I
am not quite sure what the impropriety of that is.'' The problem is:
Who obtained the tickets? If that person was a DCF vendor, there is at
least the perception of a conflict of interest.

Such perceptions, left uncorrected, send the wrong message. A history
of shoddy contracting can send an equally damaging message: That
taxpayers' dollars don't matter.

Gov. Bush should actively promote a climate of ethical leadership that
flows from the top down. Government executives, officials or
appointees who skirt ethics rules or state laws should be disciplined,
dismissed or prosecuted.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...on/9277917.htm
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