Enough complaining, folks; it’s time to help with solutions. A bipartisan House caucus has just revealed a new citizen comment line and Web site for you to voice your ideas on how government can change the way it delivers services.
Once ideas are submitted through the comment line (651-297-8391 or 800-551-5520) and Web site, the six strongest and most promising ideas will be rolled into redesign legislation.
I’m not sure how exactly this is intended to save the government money, but hey, it’s worth a shot.
The redesign caucus is set to meet on various Tuesdays throughout the legislative session with the goal to “promote and develop public sector redesign strategies and proposals within the legislature.” The first one is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Feb. 16.
9 Reader Comments
11:11 am
A place where people can comment about the government on the Internet. Brilliant!
11:12 am
First, I find this insulting. To suggest that random people in the state know more about state government than the people who work for it is outrageous. Why aren’t they asking state employees first. Last night I came up with 9 ideas for all of state goverment. I could come up with tons for my particular agency, but no one asks, ever. Second, the form is stupid. It asks “what areas of state governement are most in need of redesign?” with state government underlined. Then your choices include, “local government” which is not state government, “local and state tax structure” which isn’t really a governement redesign as it is a tax policy redesign, and “public safety” which is more city and county run than state government run. It also has an option for “health care.” What does that even mean? Health Care like how we administer the state run health care programs? (most of which is done at the county level.) Health Care like the programs themselves? Or adding more programs? Or how we regulate Health Care? Or how we regulate Health Insurance? Or maybe how we regulate chiropractors?
11:26 am
What, you don’t want the same people who elected Michelle Bachmann to design your new state government? Hell, let’s make things really for the people and by the people and just randomly appoint random people plucked off the street to serve in key positions. Who needs experience or expertise? Average is good! Clueless is even better, since it means untainted by evil career politicians or government employees who have the nerve to expect to be paid for their work!
11:34 am
KC, didn’t Pawlenty tell the state employees to fuck off when MAPES presented some of their ideas?
11:45 am
mnblrmkr, not exactly. for instance, they showed how furloughing staff would actually cost the state more and he listened to them, at least for the time being. I also don’t necessarilly trust MAPE on everything and I’m a huge union supporter. MAPE is still a group that doesn’t do the work everyday. I think asking actual employees directly is what is needed. MAPE doesn’t speak for all of us on all occassions and they have interest in keeping unnecessary staff.
11:51 am
Shit, I can’t even get more than two people to post on MNSpeak regularly. Doesn’t bode well.
12:03 pm
That requires some time and thoughtfulness, Cristina. My guess is that this Government comment site is going to have as much quality as a Strib/PiPress comment page, or a Tea Party rally.
12:05 pm
Which will be very helpful indeed. Oy!
4:07 pm
It would be entertaining if you could actually read ideas other people have submitted. It could then be my new MNspeak…