State Government Reorganization legislation filed

State Representative Mary Mascher of Iowa City (left) chairs the House State Government Committee and State Senator Staci Appel of Indianola (right) chairs the Senate State Government Committee. The two are seeking to make state government more effective and accountable through e-government innovations, consolidated purchasing, combining agencies and other reforms.

Historic legislation was introduced last week to reorganize Iowa’s state government for the first time in almost 25 years.

The proposed legislation, SSB 3030, includes e-government innovations, purchasing consolidation and the merger of several state agencies. According to nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau and other sources, these reforms will save significant dollars immediately and much more in the long term.

Change isn’t easy, but we believe we are on track to pass legislation that will provide better services to Iowans, cut government bureaucracy and save taxpayer dollars. 

There is a growing consensus that now is the right time to make bold changes. This summer, for example, the bipartisan State Government Reorganization Commission unanimously agreed on a detailed set of recommendations.  In addition, many of Governor Culver’s suggestions are also part of this legislation.  

For an overview of the State Government Reorganization Commission’s proposals, go to http://www.legis.state.ia.us/lsadocs/IntComHand/2010/IHTCM017.PDF. You can review the Governor’s recommendations at http://www.governor.iowa.gov.  Just click on “Iowa Efficiency Review Report.”