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Senate panel confirms two procurement-board nominees amid push to tighten emergency-contract oversight
Summary
Lawmakers confirmed David Russell and William "Billy" Moorhead to the state's procurement board and pressed nominees about emergency-contract declarations, surge-era procurement practices, reverse auctions and large Medicaid contracts; senators urged statutory clarification and better after‑the‑fact review.
A legislative committee advised and consented to two nominations to the state procurement board and used the hearing to press nominees on how emergency contracts are declared and reviewed, how reverse auctions and pooled bids could lower costs, and how protest litigation can extend incumbent contracts in large procurements such as Medicaid.
The committee took both procurement-board nominations up in block and then advised and consented to them by voice vote. The chair opened questioning by saying he had introduced legislation to give the committee greater authority to look at certain contracts, particularly emergency contracts, and asked the nominees where the board sees strengths and weaknesses in procurement oversight.
David Russell,…
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