BLOW UP:

State reorganization effort takes shape: Democrats to back bonds (TOM CHORNEAU, February 10, 2004, Associated Press)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans to streamline state government moved forward Tuesday with a call to state workers to begin offering their ideas and a June deadline when recommendations would be presented to the public.

Schwarzenegger promised during his State of the State speech last month to "blow up" the bureaucracy in an effort to remove waste and fraud. Administration officials announced Monday the opening of a campaign office for the Californian Performance Review as well as a Web site and hot line.

Chon Gutierrez, currently the interim director of the Department of Motor Vehicles and 30-year state employee, will lead the effort along with the help of Billy Hamilton, deputy state comptroller of Texas, who has been involved with such reviews in the past.

Supporters say the window for change is open but voters expect results.

"We are truly at a historic point," said Paul Miner, the chief deputy cabinet secretary assigned to the program, who noted that voters called for big changes in state government through the Oct. 7 recall and Schwarzenegger believes are ready to embrace such changes.

Although many efficiency improvements have been tried and failed, Miner called this one different because it will combine state workers with private-sector experts to find ways to save money. This effort, he said, also has the support of the governor and legislative leaders.

Organizers say they will enlist support of about 150 workers from all parts of state government. A commission appointed by the governor will also evaluate the ideas and eventually make recommendations to the governor and the Legislature. [...]

Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger's efforts to get state voters to pass a $15 billion bond measure and a balanced budget amendment received a big boost Tuesday from Democratic leaders, who endorsed Propositions 57 and 58.

Along with the Legislature's leaders, Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton of San Francisco and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez from Los Angeles, both U.S. senators -- Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer -- endorsed the two propositions.

One is doubtful Tom McClintock could have achieved all this.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 11, 2004 8:06 AM