If Virginia is the "Best Managed State"....

...I'd really hate to the see the worst. Check this out:

A scathing legislative audit released Tuesday shows Virginia's outsourcing of a massive $2 billion computer upgrade has been so troubled that core government services have been disrupted but that canceling the contract could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

The problems have affected almost every state agency that uses a computer -- a prison was left without inbound phone service for hours, the Virginia State Police in Newport News lost Internet access for more than three days and computers in DMV offices crashed.

Northrop Grumman, the giant Los Angeles-based defense company, was awarded the contract, the largest of any kind in Virginia's history, because state officials thought it would provide the best value despite the business's lack of experience managing state computer and communication systems, according to the report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission [JLARC].

[...]

Problems in the 10-year contract, meant to be a model for the nation, put a stain on a state accustomed to accolades for management and raises questions about how to make outsourcing work for government.

"This is a cautionary tale on what can happen with public-private partnerships," Sen. Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax) said. "The lesson is be very cautious -- and don't be the first state to do it."

Ah, yes, those wondrous "public-private partnerships," such as Bechtel's Metro-to-Dulles "no-bid," multi-billion-dollar boondoggle. Such a great concept. Oh wait, you mean Bob McDonnell wants "more reliance on public-private partnerships?" Hmmmm.

By the way, Creigh Deeds yesterday said that the "JLARC report raises serious questions about whether Virginia was well-served by the legal advice offered by then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell in the implementation of the Northrop Grumman-[Virginia Information Technologies Agency] contract." Bob McDonnell's response? I know this is a shocker, but it was to "shoot the messenger," attacking Creigh Deeds for being "increasingly angry as his negative campaign falls further behind in the polls." Yes, that's really addressing the issue at hand. Thank you, Bob McDonnell.