Annise Parker: "Hire Houston First" Economic Plan (2009)

[Parker4Houston]

Thanks for your comment. We're certainly not advocating lower quality services or products -any bid that would be accepted must meet the city's quality standards. When comparing price, we need to make sure we are looking at the total value of the product or service. If our suppliers are hiring local residents, our economy benefits and revenue to the city increases. For example, leading economists say that every $1.00 spent on infrastructure spending will return up to $2.50 to the local economy.

[mjd612]

Why would you give preference to a firm for any product or service based on any criterion except for quality or price? They have tried this sort of municipal protectionism in Detroit and New Orleans: in both cases it has diminished the quality of services and the quality of life in those municipalities. To give preference beyond the criterion of quality prices allows the purchase of lower quality, higher price products. The taxpayer ultimately suffers here.