In a trend that should continue, government is getting out of the type of service that is better provided by the private sector—economically and efficiently—and it is a trend vigorously exemplified by the new governor in New Jersey, as this story from North Jersey News notes.
An excerpt.
“New Jersey would close its centralized car inspection lanes and motorists would pay for their own emissions tests under a sweeping set of recommendations set to be released by the Christie administration today.
“State parks, psychiatric hospitals and even turnpike toll booths could also be run by private operators, according to the 57-page report on privatization obtained by The Star-Ledger. Preschool classrooms would no longer be built at public expense, state employees would pay for parking and private vendors would dish out food, deliver health care and run education programs behind prison walls.
“All told, the report says, New Jersey could save at least $210 million a year by delivering an array of services through private hands.
"The question has to be, ‘Why do you continue to operate in a manner that’s more costly and less effective?’ rather than, ‘Why change?’ " said Richard Zimmer, the former Republican congressman who chaired the task force.”
