That is the question The Olympian is asking in its editorial today.
Ever wonder why voters are cynical? Do you suppose it is because any attempt at reforming the way government does business is watered down or buried in city hall, the courthouse, state capitol or Congress? As Puyallup Sen. Jim Kastama (D) put it, lawmakers in Olympia are just nibbling around the edges of inefficiency and waste.
From The Olympian editorial:
Last year the Legislature cut just 18 boards, out of more than 400 advisory boards and commissions spread throughout state government. This year, Gov. Chris Gregoire targeted 78 boards and commissions for elimination. The House has pared that back to 50 and the Senate’s most recent target was 41.
Even if those modest proposals are adopted, lawmakers and Gov. Chris Gregoire will have a hard time convincing voters that they have overhauled and streamlined state government. It’s time for an outside group to tackle the politically charged issue of government reorganization, similar to what the base-closure commission has been able to accomplish on the national level.
In late 2008, Gov. Gregoire asked a small group of us to meet and discuss ways to "transform" state government. We were suppose to find new innovations. We had a few meetings and she made some initial recommendations to the legislature in her 2009 State of the State address and the effort evaporated.
Efforts to contract out, reduce the size and scope of government, and make government more efficient are met with a wall of anti-aircraft fire. It is like watching an old World War II movie of B-17s dodging shells over Germany.
Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Medina), vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee, was even more succinct: "It’s clear that there is no political will to pursue substantive government reform efforts. If this is our idea of reform, the public’s not going to buy it.”
He's right. Ever wonder where Tim Eyman gets his ammo for the anti-tax initiatives?
The governor and legislature have a budget shortfall of $2.7 billion and new tax proposals ranging from $600 million to nearly a billion. Government must innovate, change and cost less. The rest of the world makes that clear to us each and every day when they, for example, build factories faster and with less expense to provide newer, cheaper and better products that American use every day.
Change is painful, as businesses on Main Street, corporations like Boeing, and working families are learning. But it will happen, with or without, government. Government is not exempt and our elected officials need to get serious about reforms or we will ALL pay the penalty.
The question our elected officials need to ask is "Do we want to slide towards the abyss in which California itself?" It can happen here too!
Don C. Brunell, President (DonB@awb.org)
