Governor Rendell Urges Legislative Cost Control Panel to Hear His Administration's Cost-Cutting Accomplishments, Perspectives

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Through a letter from his chief of staff to the leaders of the Pennsylvania Senate's Cost Study Commission, Governor Edward G. Rendell today urged legislators to invite members of the Governor's cabinet to testify about ongoing efforts to keep government costs as low as possible.

"If your goal is to ensure that every consideration is given to the totality of cost-savings measures, it is important that you have an understanding of what has been done to date, and an honest assessment of the impediments to doing more," wrote Chief of Staff Steve Crawford. "We have an established record of pursuing economies and efficiencies that have resulted in a government that is far leaner and far more efficient than it was in January of 2003." 

Crawford recommended that the following cabinet members be asked to testify before the panel:

• Mary Soderberg, Secretary, Office of the Budget
• Naomi Wyatt, Secretary, Office of Administration
• Jim Creedon, Secretary, Department of General Services

As Governor Rendell noted in his budget address, the cost of operating state government has been reduced by $1.75 billion annually during his administration. For more information, visit www.pa.gov.

Editor's note: The text of the chief of staff's letter follows:

Feb. 24, 2010

The Hon. Dave Argall

The Hon. Daylin Leach

Senate of Pennsylvania

Co-Chairs, Cost Study Commission

Harrisburg, PA  17120

Dear Senators:

On behalf of Governor Rendell, and the entire Administration, I would like to congratulate you and your colleagues upon the adoption of a resolution creating a commission to study the management of current government operations and making recommendations on cost cutting measures.  This is a goal that we have pushed over the last seven years and we have been on task.  Therefore, I am pleased to offer our assistance and availability as you set about your work.  

We believe that streamlining management and cutting costs within the bureaucracy are important functions that must be performed by all branches of government, not just during difficult economic recessions as referenced in the resolution, but every single day, in good times and bad. The citizens of this commonwealth have a right to expect all of us to squeeze as much as we possibly can out of the hard earned tax dollars they send to Harrisburg.  We have an established record of pursuing economies and efficiencies that have resulted in a government that is far leaner and far more efficient than it was in January of 2003.  

That is not to say that those who came before us did not attempt to address these issues too. Walter Baran testified to that fact on behalf of the Thornburgh administration. Governor Casey tried to close Scotland School for Veterans' Children as a means to help close the budget gap in the early nineties and Governor Ridge promoted the PRIME initiative. This effort has been bipartisan and long standing.  Make no mistake that there are entrenched political, parochial and bureaucratic interests that continue to stand in the way of further progress.

If your goal is to ensure that every consideration is given to the totality of cost-savings measures, it is important that you have an understanding of what has been done to date, and an honest assessment of the impediments to doing more.  

Pursuant to that end, I respectfully request that you host an administration panel consisting of Secretaries Creedon, Wyatt, and Soderberg.  The Department of General Services, the Office of Administration, and The Office of the Budget have been front row center as we've cut, economized, and streamlined operations throughout this government.  In my judgment, the collective experiences and expertise of these professionals, as a team, will be very helpful to your commission.

Again, on behalf of the Governor, I congratulate you on your mission and I appreciate your consideration of this important request.

Sincerely,

Steven M. Crawford

Chief of Staff

Media contact: Gary Tuma; 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor