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If you not already a "Friend" of Keith's on Facebook, check out this link he posted about recently being appointed as a leader for Reform 2.0.
State Representative Keith Downey (R – Edina), a recognized legislative leader in government reform, was appointed to the Steering Committee for the legislature’s new Reform 2.0 Project. On the heels of the initial reforms passed in the 2011 legislative session, the Steering Committee will develop a Minnesota agenda of reforms for the 2012 session.
“In order to advance our Minnesota legacy for the future, we simply cannot keep doing things the same way,” said Downey. “Reform 2.0 will be Minnesota’s agenda. It is about re-balancing government with the private sector and renewing our economy by trusting Minnesotans, not by growing state government.”
Importantly, the Reform 2.0 Steering Committee will oversee working groups, reach out to constituents and gather statewide feedback in their development of policy.
“Unless we come together to re-think what we’re doing, the cycle of deficits will only continue,” added Downey. “I believe our Minnesota ethic and common sense will shine through - we need to quit spending money we don’t have, separate needs from wants, and become more cost-effective in all we do.”
Downey’s previous initiatives include:
· Performance pay and restructuring the funding of state activities
· Reduce the size and cost of the state government workforce 15% by 2015
· Sunset Commission to review state agencies, find programs to consolidate, eliminate or privatize, and drive innovation (co-author)
· Limit the state’s budget to forecast revenues
· Back office consolidation initiatives to reduce costs and improve efficiency in state agency activities
Downey concluded by addressing the need for action. “The2011 session was just a start. There will be tough decisions and it will be hard work, but we must drive ahead to reposition ourselves for the future and give the people of Minnesota the results they deserve.”
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