SAVE Commission's findings - La Follette School of Public Affairs ...

CHAPTER
FOUR
GOAL #19
Federal
Relations
Focus efforts to get
more funds and use
new authority
State
employee
“We must
conform to
federal regulations and
mandates, so
paperwork reduction
starts at the top.”
Thomas R. Hefty
Commission for the
Study of Administrative
Value and Efficiency
Commissioner
isconsin must act with speed and determination
to get more federal
funds in the categories we think are
important, while noting the possible
downsides and unwanted strings attached
to the funds. The state also
must avoid being too narrowminded
and tied up by red tape as we plan to
act on the new autonomy that may be unleashed
by the federal government. Finally, we must say
“stop” to unfunded mandates at federal and
state levels and stop the flow of regulations that
prefer paperwork over results.
Like other states, Wisconsin’s relationship
with the federal government is changing daily
as our national government tries to downsize
and begins plans to return to the states powers
assumed since the 1930s. While this delegation
of authority and responsibility is not completed,
it is welcome; state and local governments
should thoughtfully consider what they
are going to do with it.
The Commission suggests three actions:
1) give more time and attention to federal issues;
2) get more federal money for the things
we think are important; and 3) seek mandate
relief at federal and state levels.
ENHANCE THE STATE’S FEDERAL WATCH
State government’s contacts with Congress
and federal agencies are generally decentralized
and low key. Laudable efforts have been made
by governors and congressional representatives
to “look out for the state” but, generally speaking,
voters have said lobbying for federal money
is not a top priority.
For the immediate future, state and local
governments should accelerate their federal
watch as Congress and the administration decentralize.
Wisconsin needs to help Washington
ask the right questions about the direction
it is taking (as Professor William Cronon advised
the Commission). Why? Because how the
federal bureaucracy is dismantled will have
great consequence, especially for Wisconsin,
which has high quality services.
Wisconsin could benefit significantly from
federal delegation that begins giving away authority
through pilot projects. States like Wisconsin
that take human services, education,
environmental protection and transportation
seriously could be in a better position to be real
laboratories of democracy. On the other hand,
Wisconsin and other high service states could
be hurt if decisions on the future of the block
grant and other programs don’t recognize state
efforts.
The state also should be watchful because
the dismantling of federal programs may come
without the relief necessary in the law, federal
code or bureaucratic reporting procedures. That
would be like opening a present that has nothing
inside. Unless the state is alert, delegation
could open a fiscal and legal mess.
Wisconsin also has to be careful not to
mimic Washington’s narrowness. State and local
governments (including schools) are capable
of protecting their own turf and not seeing the
big picture. Delegation presents an opportunity
to look at what results the states want to achieve
with money and authority, but there is a real
risk that state agencies will adopt the narrow
thinking of their federal cousins.
Finally, the state’s federal relations function
must be tied into the state management
system and its relation to local government.
That will ensure that Washington’s narrow views
are not sustained here at home.
50 CITIZEN • COMMUNITY • GOVERNMENT — WISCONSIN: THE 21 ST CENTURY