Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Should Idaho outsource jobs?

Stennett seeks to keep jobs at home


By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The State of Idaho has been outsourcing Department of Health and Welfare jobs to India. But the Senate Minority Leader says it's time to quit having people overseas take phone calls to answer questions about Idaho's Food Stamp program.

Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Idaho, is sponsoring Bill 1150 to end outsourcing by the department, which is funded by Idaho taxpayers. Stennett claims the "outsourcing of jobs offshore is detrimental to the economy of the State of Idaho and the United States of America. Taxpayers should not be expected to support this practice."

If a person calls with a question about the new electronic benefits transfer card, which replaced Food Stamps, they are first sent to an automated response system. Questions that cannot be answered by the automated system are then routed to India. The system takes about 150,000 calls per month, approximately 1,100 of which are rerouted to India.

"I've run into a little opposition, but with some amending, it will go to the floor. (For contracting out jobs) I think we should look in-state first, in-country second, and out of the country third. As long as it's economically feasible, I've got to believe we can figure out a way to find someone in-state to answer questions about the food stamp program."

The bottom line has been ruling in a situation like this, but the concern that this bill will cost more money is a mistake, Stennett said.

"You know the saying, 'pennywise pound foolish?' The state needs to stand up and set an example. We shouldn't be in the business of taking away jobs. Have we thought all the way through what it does? Ultimately, aren't we going to break ourselves if we chase the cheapest dollar? We cut ourselves out in the long run," Stennett said.

This measure would require that state agencies may not contract with contractors or vendors who perform services offshore that could easily be performed by those residing in the United States. The cost to have those calls answered in the state or country would be $124,700 to the general fund and $142,900 from federal funds. This cost does not take into account the fiscal benefits of state monies paid to Idaho residents performing those jobs.

"We ask everybody in Idaho to pay workers compensation, provide health care and do all the things to provide for a safety net for employees," Stennett said. "Then (the state) says, 'Well, it cost too much to do business here,' so we turn around and go out of the country."

In the interest of free trade, Stennett is working on amending the language of the bill before it goes back to the floor by the end of the week.




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