Abuisng the government's sub-contracting ploy.

This week in the War on Workers: America's highest-paid government workers

Rss@dailykos.com (laura Clawson)
Saturday, February 22, 2014, 2:21 pm
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Republicans like to complain about how overpaid government workers are. It's a complaint that's not mostly grounded in fact, and one that ignores the fact that one of the preferred Republican solutions-privatizing government jobs-leads to higher costs in most cases. [One of my personal, recurring bitches about the Republican agenda - Bozo] But to say that private contractors cost more than federal workers in 33 out of 35 cases isn't enough. A new report by the Center for Media and Democracy looks at six of America's highest paid government workers - top executives of private companies that make most of their profits through government contracts. For instance:
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        Ron Packard of K12 Inc. is America's highest paid "teacher." Packard made more than $19 million in compensation between 2009 and 2013, despite the alarming fact that only 28 percent of K12 Inc. cyber schools met state standards in 2010-2011, compared to 52 percent of public schools. CMD estimates that K12 Inc. makes 86 percent of its revenue from the taxpayers.

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        George Zoley, America's highest paid "corrections officer" and CEO of private prison giant GEO Group. Zoley made $22 million in compensation between 2008 and 2012. CMD estimates that GEO Group makes 86 percent of its revenue from the taxpayers. GEO Group writes language into private prison contracts that forces taxpayers to keep prisons full or else pay for empty beds. GEO Group has faced hundreds of lawsuits over prisoner deaths, assaults, excessive force, and more, which have led to secret court settlements.

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        Richard Montoni, CEO of Maximus, is America's highest paid "caseworker." Maximus is a for-profit firm that handles government services for poor and vulnerable residents. Montoni made more than $16 million between 2008 and 2012. In 2013, Maximus landed in hot water for improper billing in Wisconsin. In 2007, Maximus paid $30 million to settle a U.S. Department of Justice criminal investigation into fraudulent billing.