Twice this week I marched in solidarity with the janitors who clean state facilities.

When I joined state service back in the 70’s there were state workers cleaning the state offices. They enjoyed the wages, benefits and dignity of serving the public. Why were their jobs privatized? The public was told we have too many state workers and that is why taxes are so high. That makes sense only if you are going to stop cleaning the offices.

Contracting out state operations has never saved any money. The companies have to pay the workers and make a profit. Sure, they pay them less and give them fewer if any benefits, but the company’s overhead and profits more than make up for the difference. There must be a hidden reason to privatize these ongoing operations.

Under my administration the only contracting out will be for limited engagements of special purposes with a definite deliverable at a specific cost. There will be no more of the fuzzy, open-ended; hope-for-the-best contracting that has wasted so many hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Under my administration the executive sponsor of a $26 Million "error" trying to build a payroll system or an endless spending spree on a voter list will be held accountable. And under my administration a public employee will perform every ongoing state job, including janitors. That is the best bargain for Wisconsin.

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