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

that we no longer dictate the process, but plan the vision
that government is there for their customer’s success and
should be driven by principles rather than process. As
one state employee shared, “Our only product is process.”
There are billions to be saved when we remove
the process barriers and let people serve the mission by
being held accountable to results and not process. The report
driven by the Oconomowoc convention where specialists
in business and government suggested a system
for different management, budgeting, procurement and
human resource systems will revolutionize this state if
implemented.
As a specialist and consultant in organizational
change, I anticipate the next stages of implementation.
In the denial stage, many will find detail flaws in the
report that they disagree with and therefore discount that
this will happen. It will happen because it is driven by the
people. Chaos will follow, but will lead to a system that
works much better and nobody will want to go back to
the old way.
It’s time to give the government back to the people
of the state of Wisconsin—A government that is driven
by results, easy for customers to use and does the right
things well.
Reports don’t change things, people do. We need
your help.
Margaret Farrow:
Withholds support for Actions numbered: 4.3 and 17.4.
The SAVE Commission was created after several
years of personal effort to have the state conduct a review
of its management and spending. The Commission
was charged with “studying government operation, efficiency
and productivity.” After a year’s work with some
of Wisconsin’s most dedicated professionals, I am clearly
aware of the challenge overhauling government presents.
The Commission was the beneficiary of input and
expertise from Wisconsin’s private sector and citizenry.
Sadly, it received little cooperation within government
itself. Government’s reluctance to assist our effort and
the burdensome, bureaucratic process the Commission
was subject to, both affirm the need to change the way
government operates.
Some will criticize this report as too “pie in the
sky.” A closer look at the report’s appendix, however, will
reveal a blueprint for the future. The appendix contains
recommendations that must be quantified and implemented
to institute day-to-day change in government.
The implementation effort should be a formal one.
This will require the involvement of citizens who are committed
to making Wisconsin government work for people.
They must be people who are willing to look at new ways
of solving problems. As Albert Einstein said, “the significant
problems we face cannot be solved at the same level
of thinking we were at when we created them.”
To reach the goal of relevant, affordable government,
the SAVE Commission has proposed a number of
first steps. The appendix to our report defines those steps
and charts a course for the remaining journey. I look forward
to working with the Commission members, legislative
colleagues and dedicated citizens to make Wisconsin
the model for 21st Century government.
Mark
Green:
Withholds support for Actions numbered: 11.2, 17.4,
17.5, 19.2 and 21.6.
I would hope citizens keep two thoughts in mind
as they read this report. First, this document’s foundation
is consensus, not unanimity. While I formally withheld
support on only a few recommendations, I have
concerns over aspects of others—concerns that this format
does not permit me to address. In some cases, while
I support the broad concept of a recommendation, I am
uncomfortable with how that idea is stated or illustrated.
In other cases, I have not yet seen the costs and details of
implementation.
Second, I believe this document should be seen as
merely an outline of SAVE’s vision for Wisconsin. As already
noted, many recommendations lack the specifics
necessary for immediate implementation. In some cases,
this was due to broadness of topic and shortness of time.
In other cases, the Commission simply lacked the necessary
outside resources and staff support.
To get a real sense of SAVE’s vision—a vision that
holds great promise for Wisconsin—readers should review
(a) the notes and memoranda of SAVE’s subject committees
and (b) the many letters and reports contributed
to SAVE from outside sources. In these materials, one
can find ideas that are more far reaching and more detailed
than the consensus report.
Finally, to fulfill the promise that is contained in
this report, I would hope that we create a formal implementation
mechanism—an office or committee that can
grab SAVE’s broad ideas and turn them into specific proposals.
SAVE’s vision provides us with a framework for a
“new Wisconsin Idea.” We owe it to ourselves and future
generations to take the next step and continue Wisconsin’s
tradition of innovative government reform.
Doris Hanson:
Withholds support for Actions numbered: 16.3, 17.2,
17.13, 17.14, 17.16, 18.6, 18.7 and 20.1.
I withhold support for the following:
16.3—Adopt full accrual accounting. A mandate
on local units of government and schools—state dollars—
will never be appropriated to cover future liabilities. The
issue has been debated and rejected several times.
17.2—Remove policies that inhibit reality perspective
and keep lawmakers in Madison. This statement implies
a move to part-time legislators. It exacerbates the
financial difficulties legislators already face in running
for office, could set up a narrow legislature of wealthy
individuals, and concentrate power in the executive
branch and legislative staff.
17.13—Require 24-hour cooling off period between
bill introduction and vote.
CITIZEN • COMMUNITY • GOVERNMENT — WISCONSIN: THE 21 ST CENTURY 75