How the recommendations came about

Gov. Matt Blunt created the Missouri State Government Review Commission on Jan. 24, directing it to consider changes to provide cost savings, efficiency and better service.

Blunt directed the 20-member panel to report within a year on how to cut costs, improve services and eliminate duplication.

The commission was led by two co-chairs: Stephen Bradford of Cape Girardeau, the president of Pyramid Tri-County Health Services; and Warren Erdman of Kansas City, vice president of corporate affairs at Kansas City Southern.

The other members are: John Fox Arnold, a St. Louis lawyer; Cynthia Brinkley of St. Louis, president of SBC; Cathy Dean, a Kansas City lawyer; Ron Dittemore, a mental health consultant from St. Joseph; Jerry Hunter, a St. Louis lawyer; Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau; Charles Kruse of Jefferson City, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau; Charles McClain of Columbia, interim head of the Columbia Independent School and former commissioner of higher education; Dick Moore of Jefferson City, owner of Modern Litho and former director of corrections; Rob O'Brian of Joplin, president of the Joplin Chamber of Commerce; Kathy Osborn of St. Louis, executive director of the Regional Business Council; Sharon Rohrbach of St. Louis, executive director of Nurses for Newborns; CiCi Rojas of Washington, D.C., executive director of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Gary Rust, chairman of Rust Communications and the Southeast Missourian, Paul Steele of Chillicothe, a farmer; Ray Wagner of Clayton, vice president of Enterprise Rent-A-Car and former director of revenue; Joyce Wood of Bonne Terre, owner of Wood and Associates; and Dalton Wright of Lebanon, president of the Lebanon Daily Record newspaper.

Six task forces of three members looked at the workings of various departments. Afterwards, the commission held six public hearings in locations around the state.

During debate over the recommendations, the list of 104 proposals was whittled down to 84. Most of the recommendations were approved by large majorities, although some were approved only on split votes.

The recommendations now go to Blunt for consideration. Some of the can be implemented by executive order, such as the creation of interdepartmental coordinating councils.

Actions by executive order take effect 30 days after the Missouri Legislature convenes unless the House or Senate votes against the change.

The remaining proposals would require the legislature to pass a bill mandating the action. And a few recommendations would require constitutional changes, meaning that voters would have the final say.

-- Rudi Keller