Texas Must Clean Up Its Social Services Contracting Mess to Ensure Those Who Need Help Get It

We'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger mess than the contracting mismanagement debacle that has come to light in the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.The commission, which grants billions of dollars in contracts to private companies for vital needs such as health care, has put itself into a tailspin by not paying attention to the basics.Spreadsheet errors, problems evaluating bids and sloppy bookkeeping have already forced the cancellation of millions of dollars in contracts that provide critical services to some of this state's most vulnerable citizens.Five top commission officials resigned or were fired in April. That includes the resignations of Heather Griffith Peterson, the chief operating officer who was in charge of purchasing, and Ron Pigott, the agency's deputy executive commissioner for procurement and contracting services.  Continue reading...