Pataki vetoes bill on contract disclosure

[Judi Lynn]

Pataki vetoes bill on contract disclosure

By MARK JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

October 21, 2005, 7:25 PM EDT


ALBANY, N.Y. -- A bill that would have forced the state to extensively disclose information about state-agency contracts for consulting services was vetoed Friday by Gov. George Pataki, who said the bill would hurt efforts to streamline state government and cut costs.

Supporters of the measure, including public employee unions, argued that state agencies spend millions of dollars a year on consulting services but the contracts the outside businesses work under are subject to little public disclosure or oversight.

"In many cases, state agencies are hiring consultants for long periods of time and are paying them fees far greater than the amount that it would cost to hire state employees to do the same work," Sen. Joseph Robach said in his sponsor's memo on the bill.

Pataki, a Republican, said in his veto memo that he was concerned the bill would require the public disclosure of the compensation paid to private-sector workers, something that could be seen as an invasion of personal privacy and result in contractors declining to do business with the state. That, he said, could be costly to taxpayers.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--pataki-bills1021oct21,0,3957680.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[aquart]

1. Never forget Pataki came out of the D'Amato machine.

He's worthless.

[Orsino]

2. NOT disclosing deals and compensation...

...is much more costly to taxpayers--though I can see why Pataki and his cronies might object.

They are not of us.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. When is Pataki's time up?

He's covering up for cronyistic practices. Would be a great campaign issue for the guy who takes him on in the next election.

[newyawker99]

4. He is not running for another term so he will be

out in January.