Groups Support State Comptroller’s Blueprint for Extensive Procurement Reforms

December 13, 2016

Watchdog Groups Praise Comptroller’s Blueprint for Procurement Reforms

Groups emphasize importance of independent oversight 
in wake of $800 million bid rigging scandal

Our groups strongly support Comptroller DiNapoli’s package of procurement reforms. We believe the Comptroller’s proposals are pragmatic steps for strengthening independent oversight over billions of dollars of state contracts, and will add much-needed transparency and minimum standards to the award of contracts by agencies, public authorities, and other state entities.

We particularly welcome the Comptroller’s proposed reforms, given the “systemic problems” with the state’s procurement process identified by federal and state prosecutors in the wake of the alleged rigging of $800 million in Upstate economic development contracts.

The New York State constitution created the Office of the State Comptroller to provide independent oversight over agencies and authorities controlled by the governor. Our groups support strengthening the Comptroller’s oversight authority and believe it will help prevent the further abuse of taxpayer funds.

In addition to the Comptroller’s reforms, the groups have proposed other Clean Contracting solutions and urged state leaders to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest by exploring options to limit campaign contributions from anyone who has or is seeking a state contract. Nineteen states and NYC have such “pay to play” laws, NY State does not.

John Kaehny
Executive Director
Reinvent Albany
148 Lafayette Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Dick Dadey
Executive Director
Citizens Union
299 Broadway
917-709-2896

Ron Deutsch
Executive Director
Fiscal Policy Institute
1 Lear Jet Lane
Latham, NY 12110

Blair Horner
Executive Director
NY Public Interest Research Group
107 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12210

Dave Friedfel
Director of State Studies
Citizens Budget Commission
2 Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, NY 10001

Susan Lerner
Executive Director
Common Cause New York
80 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004

Laura Ladd Bierman
Executive Director
League of Women Voters
NYS
 62 Grand Street
Albany, NY 12207

 

Click here to view this post as a PDF.