“Sen. McClintock’s idea is an innovative solution to state’s woes,” Schatz says

(Washington, D.C.)  The more than 167,000 members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) in California applaud last week’s unanimous passage of Senate Bill 9, which calls for the establishment of the Bureaucracy Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), sponsored by Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks).  BRAC will identify and condense or eliminate wasteful government programs.

“CCAGW commends Sen. McClintock for his efforts to reduce waste and abuse in the California budget,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “The establishment of BRAC will both save taxpayers millions of dollars in the long term and help solve the state’s budget crisis.”

California’s BRAC is designed after the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission.  The purpose of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission was to take the politics out of the decision-making process of which military bases to close.  After four rounds, the Pentagon has closed 67 major bases in the United States at a savings to taxpayers of $25 billion through fiscal 2003 and $3 billion per year thereafter.  Similarly, California’s BRAC, consisting of independent management experts, will submit a single plan to the Legislature for a single yes or no vote.

“Whenever anyone talks about eliminating a wasteful government program, special interests come out of the woodwork, common sense is set aside, and nothing gets accomplished,” Schatz continued.  “The establishment of an independent commission would eliminate the politics involved and lead to a successful method of reducing costs.”

In a time of state budget deficits, lawmakers across the country are coming up with new ways to save money.  The passage of BRAC comes on the heels of the formation of the Wingate Commission in South Carolina to eliminate wasteful and duplicative programs.  Created by Gov. Mark Sanford (R), the Wingate Commission is designed after President Reagan’s Grace Commission, out of which CCAGW was formed in 1984.  The Grace Commission also recommended the formation of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

“With a deficit of $38 billion, California taxpayers need strong leadership and cooperation among their lawmakers to right the ship.  BRAC is a step forward in putting the state budget back in the black,” Schatz concluded.  “The California State Assembly needs to follow the lead of the Senate and pass legislation to make BRAC a reality.”

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.