RINO Ray joins with Evans on federal job protection bill

The Upgrade 74 project (a major renovation of Interstate 74 through central Illinois), even though it's been a pain in the neck for all of us here in Peoria, has been handled in a very impressive manner. Most people who have been paying attention to the details realize that they are ahead of schedule in a lot of respects. This is the result of the hard work by the private-sector employees of the for-profit contractors and subcontractors hired by the state to do the work.

So why am I giving these people a free commercial? To make a point about this article:

The 2006 Federal Locks and Lock and Dam Facilities Act was introduced last week in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Lane Evans, D-Ill., and Ray LaHood, R-Ill. It would define as "inherently governmental" the operation and maintenance of locks and dams. That designation would prevent the Army Corps from conducting a public-private job competition under the rules of the Office of Management and Budget's Circular A-76, GovExec.com said.

In a letter soliciting support, Evans and LaHood described the nation's inland and intra-coastal waterways -- and the locks and dams that control movement along them -- as critical components of the transportation infrastructure.

"These locks and dams are operated and maintained by skilled federal employees who, each day, exercise their discretion on behalf of the U.S. government," the co-sponsors wrote.

I'm sorry Lane and Ray. But the nation's interstate highway system is just as "inherently governmental" and not one bit less a "critical component" of our nation's transportation system than the locks and dams through which barges pass. We use private sector employers to build, maintain and even repair the Interstate, and chasos has not erupted.

I am not speaking against the quality or the work ethic of those government employees who work on the locks and dams. But why must these people be employed by the government, which generally is less efficient job than does the private sector? It's harder to fire government workers when they don't make the grade. This is a truism that is accepted by everyone except government employees.

Think I'm wrong? Would you prefer to see Upgrade 74 performed by people directly employed by the federal government, the same people who run FEMA and the IRS?

And I'm glad to see LaHood living up to his title of "Republican In Name Only" once again by signing onto a jobs protection program.

C ross posted at Peoria Pundit