<p>When food stamp recipients in Georgia call a state helpline with questions about the program, they end up talking to an operator nearly 9,000 miles away _ halfway around the world in India.</p><p>The state spends millions on customer service jobs staffed by cheap labor in India, even as unemployment persists here at home.</p><p>A Democrat from Atlanta wants to change that with legislation that would ban spending state tax dollars for jobs overseas.</p><p>It is a fundamental misuse of taxpayer money, says Rep. John Noel, pumping both fists as he talks about the $8 million that the Department of Human Relations spends each year on the food stamp hotline in India.</p><p>By God, we have got state taxpayers creating jobs in India. Its unbelievable, he said.</p><p>However, Noel is finding that many disagree, both Democrats and Republicans. Some lawmakers say state agencies shouldnt be required to make contractors use U.S. labor to carry out the job. If its cheaper to send calls overseas, they say, then tax money is well spent.</p><p>We cant ignore the consideration of whether theres actual savings of government dollars, said Rep. David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge and a skeptical member of the State Institutions & Property Committee, which has considered Noels bill but not yet approved it.</p><p>The debate over call center jobs seeping to Asia is a national one, and several other states have debated proposals similar to Noels. Last year, New Jersey unplugged a customer service hotline in India and set up a new in-state call center after complaints. At least seven other states are considering laws preventing tax money use on overseas call center jobs.</p><p>For Georgia, only the food stamp hotline operators work in India. Since 1999, the states contractor, now JP Morgan, has used call centers in the Indian cities of Bangalore and Tune. The contract is paid on a per-call basis, so the cost varies year to year. The hotline gets some 1.3 million calls a month, for an annual tab of about $8 million.</p><p>Most callers use an automated menu to get answers, although they can speak to an operator if they wish. A reporters call to the hotline was sent to a manager who wouldnt give his name or say where the call center was located, saying, We cannot give out that information for security reasons.</p><p>The Department of Human Relations defends the arrangement, saying they chose the best deal and cant control whether JP Morgan sets up the call center in Bangalore or Brunswick.</p><p>We contracted that this job get done, and the fact that they turn around and outsource it isnt under our control, said DHR spokeswoman Elizabeth Wilson.</p><p>The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and telecom companies like BellSouth, are lobbying against Noels bill, saying it could have unintended consequences.</p><p>If you think this sends a signal that we dont like internationals, you shouldnt do it, said BellSouth lobbyist Ted Lawrence, talking to a subcommittee considering the ban. Lawrence pointed out that Georgia is soon to host the international G-8 summit and is trying to lure foreign investment.</p><p>On the other side, unions are hoping the ban passes.</p><p>We dont think taxpayers in Georgia, many of whom have lost their own jobs, should give their tax dollars to create jobs in other countries, said Georgia AFL-CIO president Richard Ray.</p><p>Some Democrats agree, saying that even if state agencies can find a cheaper contractor overseas, Georgia would benefit from keeping jobs here. The state unemployment rate was 4 percent in December, and Georgia paid $60.8 million in unemployment benefits last month to 54,451 people.</p><p>When you think about cost efficiency, you dont need to just think about one contract. You need to think about welfare, unemployment, how much you lose in income tax revenue, said Rep. Clint Thompson, D-Norcross.</p><p>Its unclear how many jobs the food stamp hotline would provide. JP Morgan wont disclose how many people work in the India call centers, and Noels bill wouldnt require that all jobs stay in Georgia, just in the United States.</p><p>It might cost more to create jobs in America, but it might be worth it in the long run, said Rep. Debbie Buckner, D-Junction City.</p><p>The bill does face an uphill battle even though Democrats control the House. The subcommittee considering it is majority Republican, and Democratic leaders havent pushed a foreign call center ban. Noel is a freshman legislator, unlikely to succeed unless party leaders help.</p><p>Republicans say they arent sold on the idea, and are expected to vote down the bill next week when the subcommittee meets again.</p><p>Its a great idea in concept. Im just not convinced its gonna be doable in all circumstances, said Rep. Howard Maxwell, R-Dallas.</p><p>___</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x2863c78)</p>
