Friday, June 27, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reid tries to stop privatization of park jobs

Department pursues industry competition

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced legislation Thursday to prevent the Bush administration from moving forward on a plan that could replace federal employees with contract workers in the national parks.

Reid said he will try to stop the Interior Department from studying whether such a move might save money and improve services by requiring park workers to compete with private industry for jobs.

"Employees of the Park Service are driven by a respect of the parks and a love for what they do," Reid said. "Instead of applauding them for jobs well done, this administration wants to reward them by cutting their jobs in the guise of privatization," Reid said.

The bill by Reid and Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., would stop privatization studies and redirect money being spent on the effort to national park maintenance.

The lawmakers said the department spends $3,000 to study each full-time job targeted. Maintenance and construction workers, electricians and carpenters are among those the department is studying.

The Interior Department has been studying federal personnel in its agencies as part of a Bush administration management initiative. The Park Service plans to make 1,708 workers face private job competition in the next fiscal year.

Documents made public last month by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility showed four positions at Lake Mead National Recreation Area could become eligible for privatization.

Reid said Thursday as many as 51 Park Service jobs in Nevada, or one out of five, could be subject to private outsourcing.

Reid said he has studied privatization, "and it doesn't work." While short-term cost savings are enticing, "wait one year, wait two years, it will cost taxpayers money." He said contractors low-ball initial contracts and make up the difference later.

"The mission of the National Park Service is resource protection and visitor enjoyment, not profit," Rahall said.

The Park Service could not provide an official Thursday to talk about the privatization effort.

But in Capitol Hill testimony, a deputy to Interior Secretary Gale Norton described the studies "as a set of tools to help us improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of the services we provide the American people."

Injecting competition "will help the federal government become more results-oriented, citizen-centered and efficient," said Scott Cameron, deputy assistant secretary for performance and management.

But others beside Reid have raised concerns.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill this week prohibiting new spending on Interior Department privatization and requiring the department to give Congress reports on studies done so far.

"This massive initiative appears to be on such a fast-track that the Congress and the public are neither able to participate nor understand the costs and implications of the decisions being made," the committee said in a report.