From OMB Chief to 'Governor Privatize'

When he helmed the Office of Management and Budget during the first few years of George W. Bush's presidency, Mitch Daniels made no secret of his affinity for the administration's "competitive sourcing" initiative to put federal jobs up for competition from private firms. But then he left in 2003 to make what turned out to be successful run for governor of Indiana. So I guess it should come as no surprise that the New York Times reported this weekend that Daniels has earned a new nickname in the state: "Governor Privatize." He's outsourced some welfare-applicant screening, running a prison and operating the Indiana Toll Road in the northern part of the state. Now he wants to put the state lottery up for bid.

“Government is the last monopoly,” says Daniels, who announced Saturday that he would seek a second term. “So competition is the key. That’s why I’m indifferent â€" public or private, as long as the benefits of competition are brought to bear.”

His old boss would be proud.