First of several hearings focuses on Legislative and Budget processes
(Sacramento) – Today the Senate and Assembly Select Committees on Improving State Government held the first in a series of joint hearings. Senate Chair Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) and Assembly Chair Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) led the discussion on legislative branch and budget process reforms.
“State government needs a new blueprint based on best ideas here and across the nation. It needs to focus on our state’s top priorities, reflect innovative and long-term thinking, and encourage bipartisanship,” said Feuer. “Ultimately, this reform effort is about creating the conditions for California government to succeed.”
“We’re going to deliver meaningful and immediate suggestions to the Legislature as we work toward better serving the citizens of California,” said DeSaulnier.
Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass formed the bipartisan select committees in September to address the pressing need for state governmental reform and evaluate major reform proposals. To accomplish this ambitious effort, the committees will jointly host five hearings at various locations throughout the state, taking on topics including ballot box budgeting and initiative process reforms, legislative oversight of state government agencies, and relationships between state and local governments. The committees’ work will culminate with the introduction of reform legislation when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
“State government needs to be more transparent, efficient and effective,” said Speaker Bass. “Today’s hearing is the first step in the process toward reforming our system of government and making it work better for the people of California.”
“Those of us inside the Capitol are quite familiar with state government’s systemic problems. If the current system isn’t working for us, then it isn’t working for Californians. That has got to change,” said President pro Tempore Steinberg.
Panelists at the first hearing represented elected offices, policy think-tanks, academic institutions and media outlets. Current and former elected officials weighed in on areas of improvement to the Legislature, among them State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, former Assembly Republican leader Robert Naylor and Inspector General Laura Chick.
Assemblymember Feuer’s website: www.asm.ca.gov/feuer
Here are links to audio of Assemblymember Feuer:
- Assemblymember Feuer’s opening remarks at today’s hearing. (2:28)
- Assemblymember Feuer says its clear state government needs to be transformed.
- Assemblymember Feuer says the committee is looking for concrete results that make California government more efficient, transparent and customer friendly.
- Assemblymember Feuer says everyone on the committee is dedicated to finding the common ground needed to forge real solutions.
- Assemblymember Feuer gives two examples of areas where both Democrats and Republicans are hoping to improve state government.
- Assemblymember Feuer says the public will support a legislature that succeeds at solving the state’s most difficult problems.
Video
Finding Concrete Ways to Transform Our Government
(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), Co-Chair of the newly formed Select Committee on Improving State Government, opened the committees first hearing today by pledging to work with everyone on the panel to find common ground in their effort to provide Californians more for value their tax dollars. Assemblymember Feuer said hes confident the committee will find concrete solutions that will make government more efficient, transparent and customer friendly. The Co-Chair also said one of the keys to improving state government is long range planning and better follow up on programs that are already in place. Learn more in this Assembly Access video.