Governor Carney’s first executive order seems innocuous at first. The Delaware State News writes that Carney wants “to examine replacing the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) with a public-private partnership.” The News Journal and the Delaware Business Times basically concur. Yes, Markell’s DEDO has had several issues which the News Journal goes into some detail about. But nestled deep in Carney’s Executive Order Number One, the governor asks the working group to look into the following:
d. The extent to which other states in the United States have used public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a tool to promote innovation and build an entrepreneurial community, the significant features of those partnerships and the degree to which they have achieved measurable results; and
e. The conditions necessary to making effective use of a PPP to foster economic development in Delaware.
Public-Private Partnerships are a long-term arrangement for the government and private business to provide a service. This is not in itself a way to provide jobs, it’s really a way that conservatives have found to privatize different government functions. If you don’t believe me, believe the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships:
A public-private partnership (P3) is a contractual arrangement between a public agency (federal, state or local) and a private sector entity. Through this agreement, the skills and assets of each sector (public and private) are shared in delivering a service or facility for the use of the general public. In addition to the sharing of resources, each party shares in the risks and rewards potential in the delivery of the service and/or facility.
If you are interested in driving on privatized highways, PPPs are your thing. Do you like less accountability when dealing with millions and billions of dollars, then PPPs are your thing. PPPs are just another business fad conjured up by the Chamber of Commerce to fatten their wallets at the expense of the taxpayer.