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Brown Column. Feb. 18, 2010 (Abolish State Offices)
Brown Column. Feb. 18, 2010 (Abolish State Offices)
Brown Column. Feb. 18, 2010 (Abolish State Offices)
It’s not like Jindal has a philosophical problem with too many elected officials.
When he was campaigning for the state’s top two years ago, there was nary
a word about eliminating any elected officials. But with the present
Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu stepping down in May to assume the
new duty of Mayor of New Orleans, the Governor saw an opportunity. No
incumbent, no immediate election, so few feathers to ruffle.
Jindal’s problem is that with term limits for legislators, there are a number of
ambitious potential candidates looking for a place to politically land. But why
stop with only the second spot? If the ball starts rolling, why not take a look
at a number of public offices, many that exist in only a few other states, and
mark them for appointment or even full elimination. If more efficiency and
saving money is the ballet cry, then let the open flood gates begin.
Jindal says eliminating the post of Lieutenant Governor would save the
taxpayers one million dollars. This may be a stretch, since the post only
pays $125,000. The second in command does have several state troopers to
drive and protect. I’ve never heard of anyone profiling any Lieutenant
Governor for harm, and the other statewide officials seem to do fine by
driving themselves, so there is money to be saved by eliminating this spot.
A better idea, particularly for Jindal, would be to emulate 25 other states and
have the lieutenant governor run on a ticket with the governor. They
supposedly work as a team in running the executive branch along the lines
of the president and the vice president. One would think this would be
particularly appealing concept for Jindal, who spends a great deal of time out
of the state pursuing his national agenda. Only five states have no lieutenant
governor. So by having his own personal pick, Jindal and future governors
just add a high profile additional member to the governor’s team to fill in or
appear when the governor has other priorities.
What about other statewide offices? How many are really that critical to
protecting the public interest that they require a statewide election? Jindal
has suggested the Secretary of State should be the second in line to be
elected. I know something about this job, holding it for two terms and being
unopposed my re- election. The duties are important: overseeing corporate
filings, running the election process, and administering the state archives.
But most of this is ministerial. No major policy involved, and the job is
appointed in numerous states, particularly the bigger states like Florida,
Texas, and New York.
By the way, the constitution in Louisiana charges the Secretary of State with
being the keeper of the Great Seal. I spent eight years looking for this major
symbol of the state’s identity but never found it.
And why stop at statewide elected officials? With tax dollars being scarce,
this might be an excellent time to do some real streamlining on both the
state and local level. Just how many boards, commissions, water districts,
sewer districts, parish auditors, law enforcement offices, and a whole list of
other special districts are spread throughout Louisiana? No one really seems
to know. Some estimates are as high as 7,000. But can you believe no
agency, public or private, can list all the public bodies that exist in Louisiana
today? And if no one knows the number, than it goes without saying that no
one knows the overlapping cost.
On the state level, the same overlap and duplicity exists. Four boards to
govern higher education? How come states like California and North
Carolina, where colleges rank at the top of all national lists, seem to get by
quite well with just one board? And how about the slew of state boards and
commissions that almost seem to make up ways to regulate where none is
needed? If I go to Whole Foods and buy a dozen valentine roses for my wife,
do I really need a licensed florist, who has to be tested and certified through
a floral board, to wrap them up for me? Or a board to oversee someone I
hire to help decorate my office or home?
In a recent interview, former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw talked about the
problem and the opportunity: “Every state and every region of the country is
stuck with some form of anachronistic and expensive local government
structure that dates to the horse-drawn wagons, family farms and small-town
convenience. It’s time to reorganize our state and local government
structures for today’s realities rather than cling to the sensibilities of
the twentieth century.”
*****
“Once a man holds public office, he is absolutely no good for honest
work.” Will Rogers
Jim Brown