AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today released "Improving the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Texas Government,” which outlines recommendations for ensuring that the performance of departments and agencies meets their legal obligations and policy objectives set by government. The paper was written for TPPF by the Honorable Maurice P. McTigue, vice president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and former cabinet minister and member of parliament in his native New Zealand. McTigue was one of the architects of the “New Zealand miracle,” which dramatically reformed the country’s government and economy by implementing market-driven, progrowth policies.
“Carrying out government policies well depends on delivery organizations, i.e., state agencies, to translate policy into action in the community,” said McTigue. “To ensure this, we should review agencies overall every 12 years, their regulatory powers every six years, and their services “bought” through the appropriations process every two years.”
“The rapid growth of government has reached the point that its efficiency and effectiveness have suffered,” said TPPF President & CEO Brooke Rollins. “The sunset process should focus on eliminating programs whose functions could be better accomplished in the private sector.”
“The current sunset review process leads as often as not to more government, rather than more efficient government,” said TPPF Vice President of Research and Director of the Center for Economic Freedom Bill Peacock. “It’s time to reform the sunset process by broadening the scope of that review and making the process more transparent.”
To read the full report, visit: http://txpo.li/improving-government-effectiveness-efficiency
The Honorable Maurice P. McTigue is Vice President of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. McTigue advised the Office of Management and Budget and most federal agencies in the Clinton and Bush administrations on issues of accountability and transparency and has consulted with legislators and governors in more than 30 states. A former cabinet minister and member of parliament in his native New Zealand, McTigue was one of the architects of the “New Zealand miracle,” which dramatically reformed the country’s government and economy by implementing market-driven, progrowth policies. He later became New Zealand’s ambassador to Canada and received the prestigious Queen’s Service Order in recognition of his public service from Queen Elizabeth II.
Brooke L. Rollins is president & CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Bill Peacock is vice president of research and director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.