Peterson's Competitive Bid Bill Approved
Lawmakers voted Monday to require competitive bidding for a wider range of construction projects and eliminate sweetheart deals that drive up the cost to taxpayers. House Bill 1648, by Rep. Pam Peterson, would require that construction projects initiated by public/private partnerships be subject to the Oklahoma Competitive Bidding Act.
"This bill protects taxpayers from the 'good ol' boy' deals that have plagued our highway and road construction projects for decades," said Peterson, R-Tulsa. "The only people disadvantaged by this bill are those who want to gouge taxpayers."
Due to a loophole in the Oklahoma Competitive Bidding Act, government entities are currently allowed to award construction projects to a single vendor if the private company "partners" with the state by loaning start-up money for the project. The state usually agrees to repay the private entity at very high interest rates.
"This bill protects taxpayers from the 'good ol' boy' deals that have plagued our highway and road construction projects for decades," said Peterson, R-Tulsa. "The only people disadvantaged by this bill are those who want to gouge taxpayers."
Due to a loophole in the Oklahoma Competitive Bidding Act, government entities are currently allowed to award construction projects to a single vendor if the private company "partners" with the state by loaning start-up money for the project. The state usually agrees to repay the private entity at very high interest rates.
Labels: Competitive Bidding, Pam Peterson
posted by Mike McCarville @ 3:49 PM
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