(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) Although we are an advocacy organization that focuses on human services, we have at times waded into the ongoing controversy over the operation of the MBTA in Boston. The reason for that has to … [Read more...]
State auditor has proposed regs that could weaken the Pacheco Law
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blogsite) The Pacheco Law has over the years been one of the more effective available checks on the runaway privatization of state services. But the law, which has been the target of continual attacks from … [Read more...]
Most of the mainstream media skipped class last week on privatization and the Pacheco Law
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blog) It's amazing how little real understanding the mainstream media has of the issue of privatization and of legislative responses to it such as the Pacheco Law. You only have to read this Boston Globe … [Read more...]
Baker administration interpreting Pacheco Law to potentially benefit private company
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blog) In what may be one of the first tests of the Pacheco Law in the privatization of human services, the Baker administration is seeking to contract out existing emergency mental health services in … [Read more...]
Governor’s MBTA panel provided virtually no support for its recommendation to restrict the Pacheco Law
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blog) The Governor's Special Panel to Review the MBTA earlier this year made some reasonable proposals to better manage the MBTA. But the Panel report's recommendation to remove the MBTA from the Pacheco … [Read more...]
MBTA commuter rail contracts rose by a greater percentage than in-house bus costs
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blog) While proponents of privatizing the MBTA point to the rising cost of in-house operations there, the cost to the agency of contracting out appears to have risen even faster. The annual cost to the … [Read more...]
A case for keeping the Pacheco Law — an update
I asked the Comptroller for figures on the total value of contracts for services held by state agencies in Massachusetts. The Comptroller provided figures for fiscal years dating back to 2003. In FY 2003, the total value of state … [Read more...]
A case for keeping the Pacheco Law
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker has listed repealing the Pacheco Law as one of his "Baker's Dozen" proposals for reducing public sector costs. The Boston Globe has editorialzed against the law as "wasteful policy," as has Globe … [Read more...]