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January
2007
WV governor
cites Public Works in 2007 State of State Speech
Jan. 10, 2007
West
Virginia Governor Joe Manchin acknowledged Public
Works during his 2007 State
of the State Speech.
"... I am bringing to you recommendations of the cost
savings reports my administration commissioned from the nationally
recognized consulting firm Public
Works," Governor Manchin
said. "These reports identify areas within state government
where millions of dollars of cost savings can be generated
over the next five years. In fact, we have already saved more
than $26 million by administratively implementing several
of these recommendations."
The first phase of the West Virginia Performance review undertaken
by Public
Works identified $318 million
in savings during the next five years.
"We have enjoyed working closely with Governor Manchin,
who is one of the most effective and innovative governors
in America," Public
Works President Eric Schnurer
said. "While we appreciate having our efforts lauded
by the Governor during his State of the State speech, it is
more gratifying to see that work pay off in better programs,
policies, and services for the people of West Virginia ."
- The
text of Governor Manchin's
2007 State of the State Speech can be found here.
(See page 5 for the mention of Public
Works.)
- Video
of the Governor's speech can be found here.
(Fast forward to 17:50 in the speech for the mention of
Public
Works.)
November
2006
N.M. governor
kept his promises
Excerpted from the Las Cruces Sun-News
Nov. 1, 2006
SANTA
FE, N.M. -- In September 2003, then-gubernatorial candidate
Bill Richardson released a two-inch thick binder in which
he vowed, if elected, to save the taxpayers of New Mexico
$90 million.
Four years later, state officials are unable to track all
of the campaign promises made by Richardson, but can show
more than $93.4 million to the general fund and $124.4 million
total from enhanced tax collection efforts alone.
The campaign promise focused on three specific areas —
Medicaid fraud and overpayments; reduced overhead, travel,
contracts and furniture; and delinquent taxes. At the time,
taxes were pegged for the lowest area of return. They have
turned out to be the greatest.
September
2006
"World's
smartest man" gets advice from Public Works
Democrat Eliot Spitzer has been half-jokingly called "the
world's smartest man" — but he's getting some help
in the thinking department.
Spitzer
… has paid a Pennsylvania think tank more than $50,000
for policy advice…. The think tank is … run by Eric
Schnurer, a former federal prosecutor who handled policy for
Florida Sen. Bob Graham's short-lived presidential bid….
"They
have broadly and generally advised us," Spitzer spokeswoman
Christine Anderson said. As an example, she later said, they
reviewed economic development speeches Spitzer made….
Spitzer
himself, Anderson said, is involved in crafting policy "from
the concept to the stage where they're working out the details."
"He
really does believe in getting the best minds [to] evaluate
a situation and what might be done creatively to solve it,"
she said.
—
New York Daily News, "Spitzer Dished Out $50G for Policy
Advice," (September 3, 2006).
August
2006
Public
Works' efforts have received national attention
recently by becoming part of the Democratic Leadership Council's
2006 State and Local Playbook. Following are excerpts
from three recent works:
Balancing
Budgets Responsibly:
"Tough budgetary decisions will likely be a reality for
state and local officials in the foreseeable future. Many
are looking for ways to balance their budgets responsibly,
without resorting to cuts in important investments or tax
hikes on middle-class families. One alternative is to find
savings by identifying and implementing better and smarter
ways to deliver services. By focusing on government through
a practical rather than an ideological lens, many state and
local leaders are finding creative ways to identify performance
improvements that save money or bring in additional non-tax
revenues from the federal government."
P-20
Councils:
"In July 2005, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano established
a P-20 Council to bring business leaders, policymakers, and
educators together with the collective goal of ensuring that
the state!&s schools are producing the talent needed to
grow Arizona!&s economy. The council is charged with increasing
the overall quality of education in the state, as evidenced
by the number of students who graduate from high school, succeed
in college, and join the workforce well-prepared." \
Making
Green Waves:
"State retirement fund managers ... are launching initiatives
to promote greater awareness of the problem and using their
massive public pension funds to invest in firms that develop
cleaner technology. "
- To
learn more about Public Works,
click here.
- If
you'd like to see a full copy of any of the stories mentioned
below, please contact
us today
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