Schwarzenegger takes aim at red tape

Financial Times ^ | June 25, 2004 | Christopher Parkes

[FairOpinion]

Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched his most ambitious project to date with a scheme to save California "hundreds of millions of dollars" on the $4bn the state spends each year on goods and services.

The governor's plan to centralise purchasing in a single agency is the first and relatively modest step in his much-anticipated California Performance Review - he calls it "blowing up boxes" - to clear red tape, bureaucracy and waste.

Observers expect the Republican governor to make the performance review the centrepiece of his first term in office. Plans already drafted, including disbanding some 200 state boards and commissions and sacking 1,500 political appointees, are likely to rouse strong opposition in Democrat ranks.

One advisory team has suggested savings of several billion dollars could be made by reorganising inefficient state health services. Other projects include a single department to regulate energy and privatisation of some services.

Although some elements will require approval by the legislature, others may be implemented by decree. Mr Schwarzenegger's draft law containing the main elements of reform is expected to be presented later this year in an unusual form that means the assembly and senate may approve or reject the plans, but not change them.

[FairOpinion]

The Terminator of Waste is at work!

[FairOpinion]

FYI

[EGPWS]

Plans already drafted, including disbanding some 200 state boards and commissions and sacking 1,500 political appointees, are likely to rouse strong opposition in Democrat ranks.

Now that's a slug to the belly of the beast!

[AngrySpud]

"Disbanding 200 boards and commissions ... "

No doubt bringing a long overdue end to the 1939 "Commission To Bring Peace in Our Time", and the 1954 "Board to Subsidize Socialist Silent Films".

[FairOpinion]

"Plans already drafted, including disbanding some 200 state boards and commissions and sacking 1,500 political appointees, are likely to rouse strong opposition in Democrat ranks. "

[DoughtyOne]

Plans already drafted, including disbanding some 200 state boards and commissions and sacking 1,500 political appointees, are likely to rouse strong opposition in Democrat ranks.

Ouch, that's gotta smart! Take that demoncrats.

[azcap]

"We have to discipline them," he said. "I need you to call your legislators and tell them 'Pass the governor's budget now, otherwise I will not vote for you'."

 

GOP critics said Schwarzenegger could get nothing past the ultra-liberal legislature unless he was just as liberal. That may have been true of a Governor McClintock but Arnold's immense popular appeal is a powerful weapon that the rats in Sacramento must fear. Except for the reps from Berkeley and the like it can almost be said that any individual California legislator serves only at the pleasure of King Arnold. If Arnold comes to your district and campaigns against you... hasta la vista

 

[sergeantdave]

Fire bureaucrats and the red tape will disappear.

[truthkeeper]

Thanks for pinging, will read tonight.