Governor declares creation of state review commission
Warren Erdman accepts Gov. Matt blunt´s appointment as co-chair of the newly formed 2005 State government Review Committee. Blunt formed the committee by eecutive order to addresss ways government can be reorganized to improve efficiency.
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt announced the formation of the 2005 State Government Review Commission.
“We will establish a commission to reevaluate the structure of government itself,” Blunt said.
Not since the so called Little Hoover Commission of more than thirty years ago has the state government undergone a full examination of opportunities to restructure, reduce, or eliminate state government functions.
“In many ways, we do have a typewriter government in an Internet age,” Blunt said.
The co-chairs of the commission will be Warren Erdman of Kansas City and Stephen Bradford of Cape Girardeau.
Erdman is the vice president of corporate affairs for Kansas City Southern and served as the chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) from 1987 to 1997.
“As we go forward, we will look to engage the people of Missouri to hear what they have to say,” Erdman said.
“And [we will] deliver to the people of Missouri as much efficiency and as much customer service as we are capable of doing,” Erdman said.
Bradford is the president and chief executive officer of The Pyramid Group, Inc., a company that provides skilled nursing and in-home services to the elderly.
Bradford played a key role in the last government reorganization when former Gov. Kit Bond appointed him to staff the task force that led to the Omnibus Reorganization Act.
“I don’t think any business could go 33 years without any significant change,” Bradford said.
The governor has asked the commission to submit within 60 days a strategic plan outlining the steps needed to begin implementing ways to eliminate waste the commission uncovers.
The committee has a year to issue its report and submit recommendation to the governor.
The idea of a ‘super-board’ of education is on the table, Blunt said.
“You would be hard pressed to find sacred cows in this discussion,” Blunt said.
The new Missouri Commissioner of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, Dr. Gregory G. Fitch, once served as executive director for the Idaho State Board of Education. All education, pre-school through graduate school, was coordinated through the board.
“I am responsible for the people I have appointed to run agencies for the state government,” Blunt said.
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