Feb. 13, 2009

Dear friends and neighbors,

Although Valentine's Day is tomorrow, there's not a lot to love about the $7 billion state budget deficit and its ensuing debate under way in Olympia. Earlier this week, the governor came out with her government reform package to save money and help make the state more efficient. I've been working on making government more efficient and saving taxpayers' money since I first was elected as your representative. Isn't it interesting that government reform now gains some interest once the state finds itself in such a deficit?

The governor proposed several things that I agree and disagree with. She wants to eliminate more than 150 outdated boards, commissions and advisory committees, many of which receive money, but some never even meet anymore. Good idea!

She wants to close or reduce operating hours at 25 Department of Licensing offices throughout the state and replace them with electronic kiosks. Bad idea!  I'm especially concerned because it could cut off the ability for rural folks to access needed services. Among the local offices slated for reduced hours (open from one to three days a week) are: Chelan and Coulee Dam. The Ephrata office would be closed completely. This would especially be difficult for some of our senior citizens who have difficulty traveling far.

The governor also wants to create a new Department of Commerce (from the existing Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development) that would have the following three functions:

1) How do we bring businesses to Washington?

2) How do we keep businesses in Washington?

3) How do we create more family wage jobs?

I believe ALL state agencies should be asking those questions in their day-to-day operations. We don't need another bureaucracy to be doing what the state should be doing down the line in all agencies. If the state had been doing this in the first place, more businesses might be in operation providing more jobs, rather than fighting to keep up with all the regulations placed upon them by state agencies.

We need to reduce the size of government. That is why this week I have introduced legislation to eliminate the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). House Bill 2197 would put the functions of that huge agency into four smaller departments, including the Department of Economic Services, Department of Medical Assistance, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department of Children's Services.

DSHS has become too large and unwieldy, and it's just not adequately serving the public's needs. The state has tried to put too many governmental functions into one super agency, and it has not worked. It's difficult to administer, costly, and it's very hard to measure whether the agency is actually meeting its goals and responsibilities.

By reorganizing this agency into smaller departments, we can save money and better serve our citizens. That's what government reform is all about.

I welcome your comments. And please do enjoy Valentine's Day with your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Mike Armstrong
State Representative
12th Legislative District