This is what happens when you get a president in office more concerned with protecting labor than efficiency and common sense. An executive order President Obama signed into effect yesterday requires new contractors to keep old workers when a government service contract expires.

The White House tries to justify the executive order:

The Federal Government’s procurement interests in economy and efficiency are served when the successor contractor hires the predecessor’s employees. A carryover work force reduces disruption to the delivery of services during the period of transition between contractors and provides the Federal Government the benefits of an experienced and trained work force that is familiar with the Federal Government’s personnel, facilities, and requirements.

Uh huh. And what happens if, as Kaus asks, “the contract got switched because the previous work force, you know, sucked?” The new contractor has to keep the same crappy workforce on the new contract? Mickey’s spot-on metaphor:

For example, the Obama administration itself can be seen as having won a new contract to perform the same Federal services, at the same location, as the previous contractor, the Bush Administration. Did Obama keep all of Bush’s employees in order to reduce “disruption” and enjoy “the benefits of an experienced and trained work force that is familiar with the Federal Governments … facilities”? I don’t think so!

Exactly. Like I said, President Obama is more concerned with protecting labor than efficiency or common sense.