Democratic lawmaker blasts Gov. Haslam for push to privatize

NASHVILLE — A Democratic lawmaker is criticizing what he describes as the "secretive" process being used by Gov. Bill Haslam to develop and award a contract for privatized management of state building operations and also questions the Republican governor's motivations.

"This issue is about jobs and families," Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, told reporters this week. "Now, Gov. Haslam's conspired to unemploy thousands of state workers behind closed doors. He's done so in a secretive manner. If it were not for local media in uncovering these, we might still be in the dark."

Clemmons' comments came during a Monday conference call organized by United Campus Workers, which is opposed to the Haslam administration's ongoing effort to develop a comprehensive building services outsourcing contract.

It could affect facilities management across 90 percent of Tennessee's government, including the University of Tennessee, which includes UT-Chattanooga, and the Tennessee Board of Regents, which includes Chattanooga, as well as Cleveland State Community Colleges.

Read more: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/aug/17/state-lawmaker-accuses-secretive-haslam-willi/381621/