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BearingPoint's accomplishments are good news for state

Re: Fired and rehired, editorial, Jan. 18.

Only the St. Petersburg Times editorial page could spin what is essentially a good-news story for Floridians into a bad one.

Since when is it an "odd defense" for a company to be rehired because it "has performed credible work?" Could it be because, as you conveniently neglect to mention, the outsourcing work we've done for the State Technology Office was "successful and provided significant cost savings to the state of Florida"? That's the conclusion from none other than Florida's chief information officer, Simone Marstiller, in a press release issued Sept. 30.

Even more odd to us is that while you quote from Gov. Jeb Bush's letter to state Sen. Walter Campbell, which states that he has spoken with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and "there does not appear to be any criminal wrongdoing on the part of [BearingPoint]," you conclude that because the prior contract is under a "cloud," BearingPoint should be denied the recently competed and awarded Technology Office contract. Since when does a supportive letter from a state governor, as well as the actual accomplishment of saving taxpayers money, create a "cloud"?

At BearingPoint, we believe in accountability and we look forward to saving Florida taxpayers even more money.

Contractors are strictly managed

Your Jan. 18 editorial Fired and rehired incorrectly reported that BearingPoint is still running the state's data center. In fact, the company is now providing only a handful of the 37 professionals needed to staff that operation.

Last month, the State Technology Office conducted a fair and competitive procurement for short-term staff augmentation services. After thoroughly evaluating the 11 responses received, the STO determined that two companies - Infinity and BearingPoint - demonstrated they could provide the best qualified individuals for the best value.

As you know, the STO prudently terminated its previous contacts with BearingPoint and Accenture due to concerns about the procurement process that led to those contracts. Neither vendor was fired for poor performance.

Automatically disqualifying a company based solely on the existence of an investigation will not result in better state contracts. Such blacklisting would only discourage companies from doing business with the state. Rather, the STO will continue to strictly manage the performance of contractors to ensure we're getting what we pay for.

Misusing our tax money

Re: Cuts to Medicaid.

I pray that I am not the only one who is outraged that our governor is proposing handing over the state's Medicaid program to profit-driven managed care organizations. (And the key phase is "profit-driven.") As we already know, when it comes to making a choice between profits or providing medical care to those who need it, profits always win out and the care is always cut.

After all, it is our tax money, not the governor's. We should be able to dictate how it is spent and who should handle it. Maybe if the state and our local governments would stop giving away millions in tax incentives and tax refunds to companies such as J.P. Morgan & Chase to relocate here with the promise of creating jobs, we might have the money to pay for Medicaid and other programs being considered for the chopping block.

And if those companies should decide to close and lay off Florida workers after taking the incentives, we should demand that they pay that money back. Again, it is our money.

Governor should show humanity to all

Re: Medically Needy program

Upon hearing Gov. Jeb Bush's proposal to reform the Medicaid and Medically Needy programs in Florida, I had to compare his actions to the battle he put up in the Terri Schiavo case. The actions he proposes for low-income, disabled and chronically ill people are completely opposite to that.

I am a chronically ill Floridian and rely on the programs the governor plans to cut, reform or eliminate. Year after year, the 36,000 who rely on these programs are faced with the loss of the safety net these programs provide.

It would be refreshing if the governor showed the humanity and care to all of us he showed to the Schiavo family. No one's life should be placed above another's. Those in the medically needy community once lived productive lives and should never be discounted or placed in danger in the name of the state's budget or tax cuts. After all, life is a precious thing. The governor should be reminded of that.

Consider another area of "need'

Re: Need may be key factor in school's fate, Jan. 24.

So the chiropractic school at Florida State University may not be approved because of "need."

Geez. The state should do us all a huge favor and close a couple of law schools.

Bias against homeowners associations

Re: Couple in stew over statuary, Jan. 25.

I see that you printed the periodic obligatory story about a mean-spirited homeowners association board and its harassment of a stalwart homeowner who is standing up for his rights.

One can only speculate about your reasons for your attacks on deed restricted communities. I suspect there is a feeling that deed restricted communities are somehow a sign of a privileged class. But, be that as it may, the fact remains that your periodic articles are biased and generally one-sided.

It seems to me that fairness would dictate that you at least mention two things. One, if a person doesn't like the restrictions that exist, then do not buy a house in the community. Two, if the board of a homeowners association does not enforce all restrictions in the governing document, it virtually renders that document useless. By law in Florida, a Realtor is required to provide a copy of the by-laws, or declaration to every prospective buyer. Is it too much to ask them to read the blessed thing?

A job well done

Re: Zhao, unremembered, editorial, Jan. 20.

Your notice regarding the recent - and largely unnoticed - passing of former Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang represents the best in American print journalism and reinforces my daily reading of the St. Petersburg Times.

As one reader whose conservative passions regularly put me at odds with Times editors, I nonetheless admire the depth and breadth of your coverage at its best, and this is surely an example. Thanks and hats off to the staff.

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 00:40:21]