THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410150019
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Gov. George Allen ran last year saying he believed in Thomas Jefferson's dictum that that government which governs best governs least. And it seems the governor's commission on government reform has taken the slogan to heart. Formed by Allen in the spring the group has come up with hundreds of suggestions that call for radically downsizing the state government and for experimentation with bold reforms.
Words often used in the report are downsize, consolidate, privatize, deregulate. If the governor means what he says, he will follow up on the report and not merely let it gather dust on a shelf.
The commission's members didn't restrict themselves to any portion of the government. The commission calls for reforming every aspect: revamping mining regulations, education and transportation reform. The panelists took it all on.
Among the recommendations: tuition credits to promote school choice; experimenting with private management of public schools; selling the state yacht; a pilot program for private-road maintenance; strengthening private-property rights to protect against environmental laws that confiscate property and hundreds of others.
Whether the suggestions are implemented is another matter. With a General Assembly controlled (for now) by Democrats, the governor is likely to find the going tough on many of the more radical proposals. There is no reason, however, why he could not implement the many that could be done by executive order, such as downsizing the bureaucracy and rule changes for streamlining government regulations.
The panelists should be commended for their work. The more suggestions about reforming the government the better. And the report is written in a thoughtful, comprehensive manner.
The potential savings are great. Other states have saved millions from programs such as private road maintenance and selling off excess state property, savings Allen says could be used to help fund his prison reforms.
But even if only a few of the recommendations are implemented, the panel has framed the debate about the role of state government. Debating reform is the first step toward achieving it. by CNB