Posted on 08/08/2004 9:26:51 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lit the fuse on his promise to blow up the boxes of state government with the release last week of the massive, 2,500-page California Performance Review report. Many Sacramento insiders, including legislators and advocacy groups opposed to the reforms, are already frantically trying to stamp out that fuse.
They say it won't work, reforms can't be made. Others say the report, like so many reports before, will simply end up in the dustbin of failed government reform efforts. But there's a difference this time: Schwarzenegger himself.
"Of course there will be the special interests that will be screaming, that will be complaining, that will be squawking about the recommendations, calling them unfair and impractical and maybe even worse," Schwarzenegger said. "But this is because their agenda is not the people's agenda."
Embedded in the 7-inch-thick report is a blueprint for a new model of government - a complete overhaul of the executive branch - as well as 1,000 concrete recommendations on improving the way the state operates. These recommendations range from the mundane - like ordering all state forms to be written in plain, understandable language - to the very large - like selling state assets, using more toll roads and putting more state functions out to competition.
Comparing this reorganization proposal to others in history, the executive director of the Little Hoover Commission, the state watchdog that reviews reorganization plans, said this is the most far-reaching reform effort "by a magnitude of thousands."
In 1918, the Taxpayers Association of California issued a report demanding a complete reorganization of government, criticizing the current structure for duplication, too many independent offices, boards and commissions, significant inefficiency and a general lack of accountability. Today, 86 years later, we are sounding the same alarm.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
Bump!
GO ARNIE! KICK SOME BUTT!
Arnold should go to the people if the Legislature shoots down common-sense reforms.
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