More On Public Authorities
Seriously, if I asked you which agencies of the Government in the US are the most secretive, what would your answer be: the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency/Central Security Service, FBI, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Homeland Security, or Defence Department?
Would you be concerned about a "semi-secret fourth branch of government with little or no accountability [which has] developed a culture of arrogance." Would you want to have entities that "supposedly were created to benefit the public, but they operate without any real oversight by, or accountability to, the people they are supposed to be serving." Would you be concerned about organizations involved in "major cases of corruption, waste, mismanagement, unethical and, at times, illegal activity." Are you in favour of "a system of taxation without representation?"
You may be surprised to read this news release that I found that was issued by New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Their target: "public authorities" in New York State. Given the pro-consumer reputation of Spitzer, this is obviously a major concern!
I raise this issue again because of Bill C-3. Our NDP MP out of Windsor West, Brian Masse, is the big advocate of a "public authority" to control border traffic. Something like that may have to be created under Bill C-3 if the legislation is passed.
Under the Act, the "public authority" would have the power to control the use that may be made of international bridges by different types of vehicles and setting the tolls, fees and other charges that may be imposed by owners or operators of international bridges for their use, to ensure the efficient flow of traffic.
Can you imagine the potential problems that would create. Can you imagine what would happen if such an organization was created at the political level by the Federal Government? Unless the most stringent controls, oversight and reporting requirements were placed on that body, I hate to think about the possible consequences. It could make Adscam look like Kindergarten!
Read all about these public authorities in New York and decide if you want them here.
HEVESI & SPITZER CALL FOR MAJOR REFORM OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
Citing the many serious problems discovered at public authorities, New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today called for major reform of authorities. Comptroller Hevesi issued omnibus legislation to make public authorities more accountable, which proposes new laws regarding awarding of contracts, strict requirements for registration and disclosure by lobbyists, governance reforms of authority boards including a majority of independent members, and increased oversight powers for the Comptroller's Office. The Comptroller also issued a report detailing many gaps in current oversight.
“Authorities have made major contributions to New York, including building and expanding our transportation systems, our public universities and water systems. But authorities have become a semi-secret fourth branch of government with little or no accountability and many have developed a culture of arrogance. It's time for a major reform to bring authorities under control and ensure that they use their resources to serve the important public tasks they have been given, unhindered by waste and corruption,” Hevesi said.
"We need to put the word ‘public' back into the phrase ‘public authorities'", said Attorney General Spitzer. "These entities supposedly were created to benefit the public, but they operate without any real oversight by, or accountability to, the people they are supposed to be serving. The time has come for sweeping reforms to the entire system."
In addition to the 113-page reform legislation, Hevesi released a study which found that there are more than 640 authorities in the State, including 169 major State public authorities and affiliated subsidiary corporations, 43 authorities that are affiliated with State agencies, 425 local authorities and three interstate authorities with three subsidiaries. Authorities issue more than 90 percent of State debt. State general obligation debt makes up the remaining 10 percent. The 17 authorities that have issued at least $100 million in debt have a total of $105 billion in debt outstanding, including $33.8 billion in State supported debt.
“New Yorkers pay for public authorities in the form of rates, tolls and fees, and our taxes offset authority-related tax-exemptions and pay the debt service on authority-issued bonds. In most cases, New Yorkers have no choice but to use authority facilities. But they do not have even indirect control over how these billions of their dollars are used. Authorities have created a system of taxation without representation,” Hevesi said.
The study includes a partial list of major cases of corruption, waste, mismanagement and other significant problems, including 55 that have occurred just since 1990. “A review of past practices by authorities reveals substantial mismanagement, as well as a history of unethical and, at times, illegal activity. Concern regarding the lack of oversight has intensified recently in light of these widespread scandals, resulting in a public cry out for reform,” Hevesi said...
“There has been enormous growth in the number of authorities, but there has been no systematic effort to provide oversight or review existing authorities and make sure their mission still makes sense. That's the purpose of the proposed commission,” Hevesi said.
Authorities are largely unaccountable to State government. Out of more than 640 entities with State and local functions:
Only 11 must receive approval by the Public Authorities Control Board before issuing debt;
Few are subject to debt caps established by the Legislature.
The 2004-05 Executive Budget and State financial plan reports on finances of only 31.
The State Comptroller receives financial data and other reports from only 53.
The Office of the State Comptroller posts on its website ( www.osc.state.ny.us ) the limited information it receives about authority finances and operating costs such as staff salaries, but much information is not readily available to the public.
The recent efforts of the Office of the State Comptroller have led to meaningful reforms in the budget process at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, new internal controls at the Long Island Power Authority, the pending appointment of an Independent Private Sector Inspector General for the New York Racing Association and the cancellation of a contract that granted exclusive development rights along much of the New York State Canal System for $30,000. But the pattern of problems makes it clear that broad reform is necessary.
The Attorney General's Office conducted a lengthy investigation into criminal conduct at NYRA, which resulted in arrests and convictions, and is currently conducting an investigation of alleged contract improprieties at the Canal Corporation. Spitzer has repeatedly urged adoption of improved procurement, lobbying, ethics and operational reforms for all authorities.
“It is time to rein in this large semi-secret unsupervised government empire. Authorities provide crucial services and borrow and spend enormous sums. They must be accountable to the public,” Hevesi said.
“These authorities must be responsive to the principles of openness, transparency, fairness and efficiency. There is too much at stake to let this opportunity for reform pass us by,” Spitzer said.
It is currently difficult to obtain detailed information about authority contracting in order to estimate how much money contract reforms could save. However, in 2002, nine large State authorities spent $3.95 billion through contracts. It is generally accepted that competitive bidding can save from 10 percent to 37 percent. Assuming only one percent savings from improved competitive bidding, total savings for just those nine authorities could be $39 million a year. That does not include potential savings from reduced waste and mismanagement. Those savings would clearly more than offset the minor cost of the Commission, estimated at $1.5 million a year for three years, or the additional Comptroller's Office staff, estimated at $1.5 million a year.
Would you be concerned about a "semi-secret fourth branch of government with little or no accountability [which has] developed a culture of arrogance." Would you want to have entities that "supposedly were created to benefit the public, but they operate without any real oversight by, or accountability to, the people they are supposed to be serving." Would you be concerned about organizations involved in "major cases of corruption, waste, mismanagement, unethical and, at times, illegal activity." Are you in favour of "a system of taxation without representation?"
You may be surprised to read this news release that I found that was issued by New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Their target: "public authorities" in New York State. Given the pro-consumer reputation of Spitzer, this is obviously a major concern!
I raise this issue again because of Bill C-3. Our NDP MP out of Windsor West, Brian Masse, is the big advocate of a "public authority" to control border traffic. Something like that may have to be created under Bill C-3 if the legislation is passed.
Under the Act, the "public authority" would have the power to control the use that may be made of international bridges by different types of vehicles and setting the tolls, fees and other charges that may be imposed by owners or operators of international bridges for their use, to ensure the efficient flow of traffic.
Can you imagine the potential problems that would create. Can you imagine what would happen if such an organization was created at the political level by the Federal Government? Unless the most stringent controls, oversight and reporting requirements were placed on that body, I hate to think about the possible consequences. It could make Adscam look like Kindergarten!
Read all about these public authorities in New York and decide if you want them here.
HEVESI & SPITZER CALL FOR MAJOR REFORM OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
Citing the many serious problems discovered at public authorities, New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today called for major reform of authorities. Comptroller Hevesi issued omnibus legislation to make public authorities more accountable, which proposes new laws regarding awarding of contracts, strict requirements for registration and disclosure by lobbyists, governance reforms of authority boards including a majority of independent members, and increased oversight powers for the Comptroller's Office. The Comptroller also issued a report detailing many gaps in current oversight.
“Authorities have made major contributions to New York, including building and expanding our transportation systems, our public universities and water systems. But authorities have become a semi-secret fourth branch of government with little or no accountability and many have developed a culture of arrogance. It's time for a major reform to bring authorities under control and ensure that they use their resources to serve the important public tasks they have been given, unhindered by waste and corruption,” Hevesi said.
"We need to put the word ‘public' back into the phrase ‘public authorities'", said Attorney General Spitzer. "These entities supposedly were created to benefit the public, but they operate without any real oversight by, or accountability to, the people they are supposed to be serving. The time has come for sweeping reforms to the entire system."
In addition to the 113-page reform legislation, Hevesi released a study which found that there are more than 640 authorities in the State, including 169 major State public authorities and affiliated subsidiary corporations, 43 authorities that are affiliated with State agencies, 425 local authorities and three interstate authorities with three subsidiaries. Authorities issue more than 90 percent of State debt. State general obligation debt makes up the remaining 10 percent. The 17 authorities that have issued at least $100 million in debt have a total of $105 billion in debt outstanding, including $33.8 billion in State supported debt.
“New Yorkers pay for public authorities in the form of rates, tolls and fees, and our taxes offset authority-related tax-exemptions and pay the debt service on authority-issued bonds. In most cases, New Yorkers have no choice but to use authority facilities. But they do not have even indirect control over how these billions of their dollars are used. Authorities have created a system of taxation without representation,” Hevesi said.
The study includes a partial list of major cases of corruption, waste, mismanagement and other significant problems, including 55 that have occurred just since 1990. “A review of past practices by authorities reveals substantial mismanagement, as well as a history of unethical and, at times, illegal activity. Concern regarding the lack of oversight has intensified recently in light of these widespread scandals, resulting in a public cry out for reform,” Hevesi said...
“There has been enormous growth in the number of authorities, but there has been no systematic effort to provide oversight or review existing authorities and make sure their mission still makes sense. That's the purpose of the proposed commission,” Hevesi said.
Authorities are largely unaccountable to State government. Out of more than 640 entities with State and local functions:
Only 11 must receive approval by the Public Authorities Control Board before issuing debt;
Few are subject to debt caps established by the Legislature.
The 2004-05 Executive Budget and State financial plan reports on finances of only 31.
The State Comptroller receives financial data and other reports from only 53.
The Office of the State Comptroller posts on its website ( www.osc.state.ny.us ) the limited information it receives about authority finances and operating costs such as staff salaries, but much information is not readily available to the public.
The recent efforts of the Office of the State Comptroller have led to meaningful reforms in the budget process at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, new internal controls at the Long Island Power Authority, the pending appointment of an Independent Private Sector Inspector General for the New York Racing Association and the cancellation of a contract that granted exclusive development rights along much of the New York State Canal System for $30,000. But the pattern of problems makes it clear that broad reform is necessary.
The Attorney General's Office conducted a lengthy investigation into criminal conduct at NYRA, which resulted in arrests and convictions, and is currently conducting an investigation of alleged contract improprieties at the Canal Corporation. Spitzer has repeatedly urged adoption of improved procurement, lobbying, ethics and operational reforms for all authorities.
“It is time to rein in this large semi-secret unsupervised government empire. Authorities provide crucial services and borrow and spend enormous sums. They must be accountable to the public,” Hevesi said.
“These authorities must be responsive to the principles of openness, transparency, fairness and efficiency. There is too much at stake to let this opportunity for reform pass us by,” Spitzer said.
It is currently difficult to obtain detailed information about authority contracting in order to estimate how much money contract reforms could save. However, in 2002, nine large State authorities spent $3.95 billion through contracts. It is generally accepted that competitive bidding can save from 10 percent to 37 percent. Assuming only one percent savings from improved competitive bidding, total savings for just those nine authorities could be $39 million a year. That does not include potential savings from reduced waste and mismanagement. Those savings would clearly more than offset the minor cost of the Commission, estimated at $1.5 million a year for three years, or the additional Comptroller's Office staff, estimated at $1.5 million a year.
posted by JoeBlog at 6:50 a.m.
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