State-Funded Design and Engineering Services. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
	Argument in Favor of Proposition 224

Vote YES on:

• COMPETITIVE BIDDING
• CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY
• COST SAVINGS through COST COMPARISONS
• Improved SAFETY of our state freeways and bridges
• STOP POLITICAL FAVORITISM AND WASTE

Proposition 224, the "Competitive Bidding Initiative," ends the politicians' practice of giving huge, overpriced, no-bid state engineering contracts to their campaign contributors. By requiring competitive bidding from qualified contractors and holding contractors responsible and financially liable for their own mistakes, it will improve the safety of our freeways, bridges, and other public works. By requiring a cost analysis before contracts are awarded, it ensures that taxpayers get the best value for their dollar. Fair, objective competitive bidding will break the link between campaign contributions and state politicians who give overpriced, no-bid contracts to their contributors.

"Private contractors receive millions of dollars in work without competition. Reforms are needed to protect the public interest."--State Auditor Kurt Sjoberg

"No-bid contracts are always suspect."--Contra Costa Times

Although state highway and freeway construction contracts are competitively bid, contracts for construction inspection, design, and other services aren't. Instead, Sacramento politicians simply give out these contracts, to their campaign contributors, at twice what they should cost. Proposition 224 ends this political spoils system by requiring competitive bidding.

END THE WASTE OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS

Official government documents prove that more than half a billion dollars has been wasted since 1990 on excessive costs of no-bid contracts under the current system. When contractors walk away from their inferior work, the taxpayers get stuck with the bill for doing it over and repairing the mistakes. Proposition 224 requires impartial cost analyses to prove cost effectiveness before contracts are awarded, followed by competitive bidding and contractor responsibility to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely.

IMPROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY

"Proposition 224 will mean safer highways for all of us."--Dan Terry, President, California Professional Firefighters

No-bid contracts contributed to corruption and street collapses in Los Angeles, thousands of defects in San Diego bridges, and higher tolls in the Bay Area. While money was being wasted on overpriced, no-bid contracts to campaign contributors, the earthquake strengthening of our freeway bridges was delayed. As a result, bridges which hadn't been strengthened collapsed in earthquakes. Proposition 224 improves highway safety by awarding contracts only to qualified firms through competitive bidding and holding contractors responsible and financially liable for their own mistakes.

"The ultimate responsibility for faulty workmanship has to be on the part of the contractors hired to do the job. They, not taxpayers, should foot the bill for redoing the work."--San Diego Union-Tribune

The politicians even allowed a contractor to hire its own inspectors , resulting in more than 10,000 defective welds on a bridge strengthening project!

"When the state of California lets the foxes guard the hen house, no one should be surprised when the chickens get eaten."--San Diego Union-Tribune

Join with law enforcement, firefighters, teachers, seniors, and small businesses.

VOTE YES ON COMPETITIVE BIDDING:

SAVE LIVES, SAVE MONEY, AND END POLITICAL CRONYISM!

VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 224!

DON BROWN
President, California Organization of Police & Sheriffs, COPS
BEN HUDNALL
Business Manager, Engineers & Scientists of California
WOODY ALLSHOUSE
President, CDF Firefighters