Bacon's Rebellion

Depends on the Professor

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by

James A. Bacon
in

When Governing Magazine gave Virginia all A’s in its survey of state performance, it certainly did not support my contention that Virginia’s government could be more efficient. Barnie Day was probably too polite to mention this in our recent discussion.

Well, along comes Norman Leahy of One Man’s Trash to remind us of the Virginia report card filled out by “Professor” Doug Wilder and the Wilder Commission. Not many Wilder Commission recommendations were implemented, so it’s probably safe to say that Mayor/Professor Wilder might continue to grade a little tougher than the magazine and give me at least a crumb of sustenance as I tilt at windmills.

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  1. Jim Bacon Avatar
    Jim Bacon

    Don’t forget, Governing Magazine also awarded the “governors of the year” (maybe it was “legislators of the year”) to Mark Warner and John Chichester. Praised them to the skies for raising taxes. Funny thing, though. The story never mentioned a word about the impending $1 billion surplus!

    That tells you something about what goes into Governing’s calculations o fstate performance.

  2. Phil Rodokanakis Avatar
    Phil Rodokanakis

    It’s simply inconceivable that a State Government that has no independent audit and investigative oversight can get an A grade for good management.

    The Federal Government had to legislate good management practices for the private sector following Enron, MCI Worldcom, Global Crossing, etc.–that was the Sarbanes Oxley Act. VA’s State government doesn’t come even close to meeting the basic tenents of Sarbanes Oxley, never mind the many standards promulgated by the Government Accounting Office.

    I can’t help but wonder how much the Warner Administration slipped them under the table to get their A grade. And we thought that grade inflation only affected our public schools…

  3. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    Well, VDOT improved efficiency under Warner. Also, the reorganization of the department of Information Technology into VITA has saved countless millions. Those are a couple of examples.

  4. Phil Rodokanakis Avatar
    Phil Rodokanakis

    Paul, the VDOT efficiency measures you’re talking about, I’m sure they’re similar to the $6 billion in phantom budget cuts that Warner also took credit for a couple of years ago.

    Please see my Sept. 25, 2003, column on this “Phantom Budget Cuts>“

  5. Phil Rodokanakis Avatar
    Phil Rodokanakis

    Also, that’s the same VDOT that JLARC found to be running on the average 217% cost overruns on all the projects they manage. Yeah, Warner sure reformed that Agency!

  6. E Joseph West Avatar
    E Joseph West

    See: http://www.governing.com/gpp/2003/gp3glanc.htm
    for an analysis of Virginia’s tax system, which scores
    only 2 Stars in a one to four star system in all three categories. Woinder why Mark Warner didn’t mention this?

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