Posted on 07/30/2004 6:44:21 PM PDT by BenLurkin
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A plan to reorganize state government proposes eliminating 12,000 state jobs and hundreds of state boards and commissions for a possible savings of $32 billion over the next five years. Details in the 2,500-page report obtained Friday by The Associated Press also include contracting out government work to private contractors and requiring college and university students to perform community service.
The report by the California Performance Review Board would mark the biggest reorganization since the 1960s in a state that has fallen deeper into debt to maintain services. The report is scheduled to be released Tuesday.
If approved by the Legislature, it would change everything from how soon children can enter kindergarten to greatly increasing the amount Californians could win in pooled lotteries with other states.
Officials involved in the reorganization declined to comment Friday. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't received a copy yet, an aide said, and doesn't expect to see it until it's released.
"The governor is prepared to make government efficient for the taxpayer and will be undeterred by forces who would be opposed to that," Schwarzenegger spokesman Rob Stutzman said Friday.
The report's reform proposals suggest consolidating state operations by combining 11 agencies and 79 departments into 11 major departments. It also calls for technological leaps inside the state bureaucracy, noting Schwarzenegger was unable to e-mail state employees collectively to ask their help in the reorganization study.
State finances would be controlled by a federal-style Office of Management and Budget. A Public Safety and Homeland Security Department would oversee law enforcement authorities.
The plan proposes creating a California Department of Infrastructure to oversee water, energy, growth, housing and transportation issues.
Finally, it would create super-departments to oversee the environment, commerce and consumer protection. Another would oversee health and welfare programs, now one of the state's biggest costs at $24.6 billion a year.
Critics were skeptical.
"It's very facile and easily glib to say 'Combine 'em all and save something on personnel,'" said former assemblywoman and now Board of Equalization Chair Carole Migden.
Doug Heller, a consumer advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, criticized the secrecy behind the report.
"The governor promised that he would make California government more transparent and more accessible to the public. Now he has called for the biggest reorganization and dissolution of government in California history, developed behind closed doors," Heller said.
AP-ES-07-30-04 2059EDT
"Just Do It"
"...he has called for the biggest reorganization and dissolution of government in California history." Its about time!
About time.
part-time legislature
The most important component. It'll never happen.
Part-time legislature BUMP!
Unfortunately, absolutely nothing will change until the re-districting process is reformed. When the politicians can no longer choose their voters, then things will change.
p.s. Where is it written in stone that government services must be provided by government employees?
So the legislature has to sign off on this?
"Savings" of $32 billion? Only if it translates into lower taxes, lower fees, lower everything. If it conveniently morphs into $32 billion in NEW money that the politicians get to play with, then it's no savings at all.
"Once upon a time...."
All the usual interests will fight to preserve dysfunctional government since its the basis of their pork and power.
Certainly all on financial aid can be expected to work for their money. It wouldn't be fair to those who are already working real jobs to put themselves through college to have to perform community service in addition, if they pay their own way.
For every state employee dumped --- with no income --- should be a welfare recipient also. They can all go join the illegals begging for jobs in the Home Depot lots.
32Billion! Just shows you how the money is wasted. The state won't blink with 12,000 employees back in the private sector.
HALLELUJAH!
SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
And Arnie is the sort who can make such things happen and the sort determined enough to do it.
Should be fun to watch!
I can hear all the porkers at the public trough squealing outrageously already!
Steiger's Law:
No one will fight as hard to dismantle an agency as those inside the agency will fight to preserve it.
Davisson's Corrolary to Steiger's Law
The likelihood of an agency's preservation is inversely proportional to the value of the service the agency provides. When the value of the service is nonexistent, the agency is guaranteed permanent status.
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