Clinton, Rendell split on no-bid deals
By Brad Bumsted / STATE CAPITOL REPORTER
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sen. Hillary Clinton is pushing legislation to eliminate federal no-bid contracts at a time when the value of no-bid state contracts is soaring in Pennsylvania under Gov. Ed Rendell.
Rendell, a key Clinton supporter, so far in 2008 has awarded no-bid contracts totaling $246 million, an amount surpassing any full year since he took office in 2003. The Tribune-Review reported Sunday that Rendell has awarded more than $1 billion in no-bid contracts since 2003.
In an interview Tuesday with the Tribune-Review’s editorial board, Clinton proposed eliminating no-bid contracts as one way to cut federal spending.During that interview, Clinton didn’t rule out Rendell as a running mate. Clinton said she was “incredibly impressed” with Rendell’s tenure as governor and would “consider him for anything” ranging from vice president to a Cabinet post. She cited Rendell’s “innovative” initiatives on energy and health care, both of which are pending before the General Assembly.
Rendell has said he intends to complete his term, which runs through 2010.
Asked whether the governor would follow Clinton’s lead and propose a ban on no-bid contracts, Rendell’s spokesman Chuck Ardo said the governor has reduced the frequency of no-bid contracts and will continue to do so. The higher dollar amounts so far this year are an aberration resulting from two large awards for long-term contracts, Ardo said.
“It’s very difficult to have a one-size-fits-all solution,” Ardo said. “There are times when competitive bidding is counterproductive.”
But that’s Clinton’s approach. Earlier this month, the New York senator proposed a one-year moratorium on “abusive” and “wasteful” no-bid contracts that she said are often “steered toward political allies” of President Bush.
Rendell’s Office of General Counsel last year awarded a $1.8 million contract to Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, the governor’s former Philadelphia law firm. Two former top Rendell aides work at Ballard Spahr. The firm was awarded a contract for legal work connected with proposals on tolling Interstate 80 and privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
“Obviously, (Clinton and Rendell) don’t exchange their ideas on some things,” said Stephen Miskin, a spokesman for House Republicans.
While Clinton wants to eliminate no-bid contracts, her leading supporter in Pennsylvania “is the master of no-bid contracts,” said Jack Treadway, chairman of the political science department at Kutztown University in Berks County.
“You gotta love the irony in it,” he said.
Clinton announced March 12 she was introducing an amendment to the budget resolution bill pending before Congress. Her measure targets $207 billion in spending on no-bid and limited-bid contracts in 2006, a figure that tripled from 2000, according to a news release from Clinton’s Senate office.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-California, released a study last year saying the $207 billion was the largest single-year increase ever.
Clinton’s bill allows exceptions from competition for national security, national defense and emergencies. But exempted contracts would face heightened scrutiny under her measure, her office says.
Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg say they are developing legislation that would halt most large no-bid contracts in state government.
Brad Bumsted can be reached at bbumsted@tribweb.com or 717-787-1405.
Back to headlines
