EDITORIAL: Streamlining the right call for Louisiana
The Town Talk (excerpt)

In less than two weeks, the people of Louisiana will see movement on something fundamentally important to them and their state: The Commission on Streamlining Government will hold its first meeting no later than July 30.

The commission was borne of economic necessity, common sense and strong leadership. While other states are raising taxes to cope with tough economic times and outsized bureaucracies, Louisiana has chosen a better, braver way: to review state government from top to bottom and rework it so it is leaner, dynamic and smarter. This is a milestone moment.

The panel's mission is compelling: "to examine each state department or agency's constitutional and statutory functions, powers, duties and responsibilities to determine which ... can be eliminated, streamlined, consolidated, privatized, or outsourced in an effort to reduce the size and cost of state government."

The 10-member panel is on a tight schedule. Its initial report -- to include recommendations in a proposed reorganization plan -- is due by Dec. 15 to the House and Senate governmental affairs committees. A joint committee is to review that by Feb. 1, and executive and legislation action would be considered in 2010.