Tennessee lawmakers still critical of outsourcing, say it will remain a matter of debate in 2018

Gary McCracken, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Justin Baldwin, a University of Tennessee-Knoxville student and facilities maintenance worker, center; and Emily Hoffman protest the outsourcing of facilities maintenance work on the UTK campus on Monday, April 24, 2017. (Rachel Ohm/Knoxville News Sentinel)
Gary McCracken, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Justin Baldwin, a University of Tennessee-Knoxville student and facilities maintenance worker, center; and Emily Hoffman protest the outsourcing of facilities maintenance work on the UTK campus on Monday, April 24, 2017. (Rachel Ohm/Knoxville News Sentinel)
photo Gary McCracken, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology; Justin Baldwin, a University of Tennessee-Knoxville student and facilities maintenance worker, center; and Emily Hoffman protest the outsourcing of facilities maintenance work on the UTK campus on Monday, April 24, 2017. (Rachel Ohm/Knoxville News Sentinel)

State lawmakers once again vented their dissatisfaction with outsourcing Wednesday, signaling that the controversial issue would continue to generate debate and legislation in 2018.

Republican senators were roundly critical of expanded outsourcing during a meeting of the Finance, Ways and Means Committee's subcommittee on investigations and oversight. Their stance puts them at odds with Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, who has pushed hard to outsource at state colleges and other properties.

Haslam has repeatedly said a plan to expand outsourcing to include college facilities management - including janitorial services and maintenance - would save the state tens of millions of dollars.

Read more at our news partner's website, tennessean.com.

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