>>And almost every project that used outside contractors (working outside our offices) went over budget, over time, and generally had to be redone by state employees (if we were allowed to).
Not the first time I've heard that. I note the references to outside contractors on healthcare.gov as well. At least current government has the guts not to throw the contractor to the wolves to score a political point.
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1
