ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION & SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO REFORM STATE GOV'T

 

       

 

PRESS RELEASE	Contact:  Tony Bell, Communications Deputy Office:      (213) 974-5555   Cell: (213) 215-5176 E-mail:     tbell@bos.lacounty.gov
May 20, 2009	For Immediate Release
ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION &   SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO REFORM STATE GOV’T
LOS ANGELES COUNTY – In the wake of the resounding defeat of Proposition 1A, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich called on Governor Schwarzenegger to appoint a five-member Blue Ribbon Commission from California’s top business schools to develop significant structural and procedural reforms, along with a special session of the state legislature to address the nearly $63 billion dollar deficit and enact the Commission’s recommendations.   “With a multi-billion dollar deficit and lower bond ratings, it is imperative that this be done within 60 days,” said Antonovich.       Structural and procedural changes to be considered by the special commission:   1.    CONSOLIDATE AND ELIMINATE STATE AGENCIES WITH DUPLICATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES   2.    2-YEAR BUDGET Would enable local government a consistent funding stream to prepare its own financial agenda for public safety, schools, libraries and parks.   3.    ELIMINATE NON-ESSENTIAL COMMISSIONS   4.    REPLACE SALARIED COMMISSIONERS WITH $100 STIPEND PER MEETING   5.    PART-TIME LEGISLATURE Would allow citizen lawmakers to bring valuable professional experience to the legislative process and reduce high costs for excessive legislation.   6.    REPEAL TERM LIMITS Would eliminate instability and inexperienced legislature.    7.    REFORM CIVIL SERVICE   Two successful money-saving programs initiated by Antonovich are the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission which developed over $3 billion dollars in savings; and the Economy and Efficiency Commission which consolidated County departments and saved the county hundreds of millions of dollars under the leadership of Joe Crail and the UCLA Graduate School of Management.
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