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Study Shows Extent of Washington State Agencies’ Offshoring

By D. David Beckman
WashTech News

A preliminary report released Monday by the Washington state governor's office discloses that dozens of state agencies have outsourced work and sent millions in state revenues overseas.

Three Washington state lawmakers who are sponsoring measures to curb offshore outsourcing held a news conference Monday to discuss the impact of the report's findings.

"Our state is in its third year of a severe recession," said Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma. "We saw a net growth of only 1,000 jobs in Washington last year. This is no time to be sending taxpayer dollars and jobs to businesses and citizens outside our state."

Legislation pending before the House would curb the apparently pervasive practice by state agencies of sending service work, such as software programming, to countries outside of the United States. HB 3187, sponsored by Rep. Sandra Romero, D-Olympia, and Rep. Zack Hudgins, D-Tukwila, would prohibit state contract work from being performed at locations outside the United States.

While the measure would prohibit contracts involving state personnel services, purchased services and civil service from going to businesses in foreign countries, the prohibition will not apply if the Office of Financial Management finds that the only realistic choice is a foreign company.