MPI and CAGW Release the Montana Pork Report

(Helena, Montana)—Today, the Montana Policy Institute (MPI), together with Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), released The Montana Pork Report: Wasted Treasure in the Treasure State, which details wasteful spending by the state of Montana and examines possible budget savings. This release marks the first such report in the state of Montana. Some of the report’s recommendations include the following:

·         $18,000,000 in savings by cancelling the new unemployment insurance contribution computer system;

·         $800,000 in savings by extending computer replacement cycle to 5 years;

·         $313,000 in savings by reducing the number of attorneys at the Department of Revenue;

·         $20,000 in savings by putting the state phone directory online instead of printing it; and

·         Have state employees work 4 10-hour day weeks, instead of 5 8-hour days.

The report and complete list of recommendations can be found online here.  

“The Montana Pork Report just scratches the surface on the amount of taxpayer dollars wasted by Montana’s state and local governments,” said CAGW Vice President for Policy David Williams.  “Now that these wasteful expenditures are exposed, elected officials should take action to put a stop to their free-spending practices.  When the government is the largest employer in the state, and state agencies are spending $18 million on travel, Montana taxpayers deserve a smarter, more accountable government.”

MPI is a free market think tank focused on Montana issues and Montana solutions.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.

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