Pare down, state urged -- The task force assembled by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to streamline California's bureaucracy is expected next week to recommend eliminating 12,000 state jobs, wiping out hundreds of paid political patronage posts on state boards and commissions, consolidating agencies and departments, and shifting regulatory and political powers from lawmakers into the hands of the governor. Margaret Talev and John Hill in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/31/04
Businesses Had Say in Report on State Overhaul -- Some of California's most influential business interests — including Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and EDS — were given easy access to a state commission as it met privately to recommend sweeping government changes, according to disclosure reports and interviews. Public interest groups, in contrast, complained Friday that they were largely excluded from the five-month study, ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Peter Nicholas in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
The Savings Bump Up Against the Costs -- Even before its official release, a plan commissioned by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to revamp state government elicited wide skepticism Friday over whether it could produce its promised savings and overcome opposition from some of the Capitol's established lobbies and institutions. Though many groups were withholding public judgment until they read the report, others voiced concerns that some of the report's recommendations cloaked political goals beneath the veneers of frugality and efficiency. Jordan Rau in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
Law Enforcement -- The plan to overhaul the state government includes a proposal to consolidate California's public safety system under one department in a move to fight potential terrorism while cutting costs. The Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security, as it would be called, would replace or oversee more than 80 state entities involved in public safety. The report's authors found that the "current system contributes to a bloated, confusing and unresponsive government." William Wan in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
Consumer affairs -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's commission argues that 118 out of 339 state boards — which keep horse racing honest, push for high-speed rail and oversee the state's hairdressers and barbers — cost taxpayers millions each year while creating a dizzying maze of bureaucracy. "When state goals are pursued through unelected boards and commissions, government is less accountable than if the tasks had been performed directly," the panel's report said. "When something goes wrong with a board or commission, the electorate feels powerless." Jessica Garrison in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
Public works -- The proposal to consolidate housing, transportation, water and related public works under one umbrella agency drew praise from unexpected quarters Friday, as academics and urban planners cautiously embraced the idea of considering these intertwined and vexing issues together. Although planners said they don't necessarily agree with each proposal, they said they are excited at the prospect of finding new ways to plan, finance and build public works projects. Sharon Bernstein in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
Human Services -- Using names to track new HIV cases rather than anonymous codes is likely to provoke one of the most emotional debates among the proposals to reorganize the state's vast health and welfare system. Concerns over protecting patients' privacy had already created divisions among medical professionals and activists. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
Education -- Educators on Friday gave a mixed report card to the plan to tinker with the state's schools and universities. The government streamlining panel's recommendations to move up the cutoff date for kindergarten enrollment would save money but hurt children from immigrant families who do not speak English at home, said Jim Morris, an assistant superintendent for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Jean Merl and Stuart Silverstein in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
Environment -- The plan to rebuild California government would eliminate the air pollution board that forced car makers to add catalytic converters three decades ago, a requirement that ranks along with removing lead from gasoline as one of the most effective clean-air innovations. Besides doing away with the Air Resources Board, the plan would drastically alter many of the agencies that have given the state a worldwide reputation as a trendsetter in environmental protection. In the process, it would eliminate an array of boards and commissions where decisions to regulate air and water pollution are made in public. Miguel Bustillo in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04
Environment -- The plan to rebuild California government would eliminate the air pollution board that forced car makers to add catalytic converters three decades ago, a requirement that ranks along with removing lead from gasoline as one of the most effective clean-air innovations. Besides doing away with the Air Resources Board, the plan would drastically alter many of the agencies that have given the state a worldwide reputation as a trendsetter in environmental protection. In the process, it would eliminate an array of boards and commissions where decisions to regulate air and water pollution are made in public. Miguel Bustillo in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/31/04"
The nattering enviral nannies on the hill where I live are going bonkers about this and other cuts proposed by the governator.
This has them as upset as the Dump Davis signs that used to be on my Garbage Toters and the back of my OJ Simpson large Bronco.