Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post
Newsgroups: americast.wpost
From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com
Organization: American Cybercasting
Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com
Subject: Blueprints for Cutting The U.S. Work Force;Candidates' Goals Converge, but
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 04:30:31 EST
Message-ID: <47.1992Oct26.043031@AmeriCast.com>

Blueprints for Cutting The U.S. Work Force;Candidates' Goals Con-
verge, but Methods Vary<From President Bush's Plan On 'Rightsiz-
ing Government'<

My blueprint envisages an important Government role to make a
secure and strong America. But it is also important that Govern-
ment not siphon off more private resources than are absolutely
necessary to perform the functions that will help us win the
economic competition. Because an overweight Government - serving
itself seconds rather than serving the people first - will weigh
us down in the race of a new era.

Much of my agenda can be accomplished simply by redirecting
current funding away from bureaucracies and towards people. My
agenda empowers people with the means to work, own property,
build capital, raise families, and be effective contributors
within our private market economy. Some of my ideas - legal and
health care reforms, for example - should even help us save mo-
ney.

Contrary to the assertions of some politicians and special in-
terest groups, spending as a percentage of the nation's GDP has
been going up, not down. In 1991, the Federal Government spent
23.5% of what our nation produced. That compares with 17.6% in
1965, 19.9% in 1970, 22.0% in 1975, and 22.3% in 1980. So not
only has Government grown as the economy has grown, but Govern-
ment is taking a bigger share. The American people are not taxed
too little. The American Government spends too much.

In my acceptance speech I noted some of the efforts I will make
to hold down spending. . . .

The size and structure of the Government also needs to be slimmed
down and changed. The organization of the Federal Government re-
flects ways of doing business that are now 30 to 50 years old.
Companies all across America have been restructuring, cutting
costs, becoming more efficient - preparing to be more competitive
in a fast-changing marketplace. I believe the Federal Government
can and should do the same thing. I believe a streamlining of the
Federal Government should include three elements:

First, I will cut the operating budget of the Executive Office of
the President by 33% if Congress agrees to subject its operations
to a cut of the same size. With fewer Congressional staffers
badgering the Executive Branch, I know we can cut costs by that
amount. Second, I believe all federal employees earning above
$75,000 a year should be subject to a 5% pay cut; other Americans
have tightened their belts, and so should the better-paid federal
workers. Finally, I believe we can restructure and reduce the
size of the Executive Branch through a consolidation of agencies
and bureaus that will enable us to do our job better. Why should
the Federal Government be the only large organization in America
that continually adds size and offices, and nevers gets rid of
anything? Therefore, I will submit a streamlined reorganization
plan for the Executive Branch to the new Congress - and I hope
they take the hint, too.

Let me give you an example. In many respects, the Arms Control
and Disarmament Agency, or ACDA, is a creature of the Cold War.
It needs to adapt to the times. Its highly trained scientists and
engineers are a valuable resource. Some of them can support our
efforts to stem and reverse the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. But others may be well suited to work at weapons
destruction and defense conversion - transforming the genius of
modern day swords into 21st Century plowshares.  Multiply this
idea by a hundred, or even a thousand, others. We can get rid of
some tasks, conduct others more efficiently, and add new ones
where appropriate to support my agenda. . . .

I believe the Federal Government can reallocate its almost $1.5
trillion in spending more effectively if we implement my agenda.
The reductions in defense spending that we have already begun
will provide some of these funds, and I don't want them wasted in
a torrent of new spending programs designed by a horde of special
interests.

I honestly believe that this is the only way to get the size and
spending of Government under control. . . . <<Gov. Clinton's
Chapter on 'A Revolution in Government'<

We cannot put people first and create jobs and economic growth
without a revolution in government. We must take away power from
the entrenched bureaucracies and special interests that dominate
Washington.

We can no longer afford to pay more - and get less - from our
government. The answer for every problem cannot always be another
program or more money. It is time to radically change the way
government operates - to shift from top-down bureaucracy to en-
trepreneurial government that empowers citizens and communities
to change our country from the bottom up. We must reward the peo-
ple and ideas that work and get rid of those that don't.

It's long past time to clean up Washington. The last 12 years
were nothing less than an extended hunting season for high-priced
lobbyists and Washington influence peddlers. On streets where
statesmen once strolled, a never-ending stream of money now
changes hands - tying the hands of those elected to lead.

Millions of hard-working Americans struggle to make ends meet
while their government no longer fights for their values or their
interests. Washington deregulated the Savings and Loan industry
and then tried to hide when it collapsed, leaving taxpayers to
foot the bill. Political action committees and other special in-
terests funnel more than $2.5 million every week to Congress,
giving incumbents a 12-1 financial advantage over challengers.

During the 1980s the White House staff routinely took taxpayers
for a ride to play golf or bid on rare stamps. High-level execu-
tive branch employees traded in their government jobs for the
chance to make millions lobbying their former bosses. Experts es-
timate that nearly one of every two senior American trade offi-
cials has signed on to work for nations they once faced across
the negotiating table.  This betrayal of democracy must stop.

To break the stalemate in Washington, we have to attack the prob-
lem at its source: entrenched power and money. We must cut the
bureaucracy, limit special interests, stop the revolving door,
and cut off the unrestricted flow of campaign funds. The
privilege of public service ought to be enough of a perk for peo-
ple in government.

I will take the following steps:Staff reductions. I will reduce
the White House staff by 25 percent and challenge Congress to do
the same.

Eliminate 100,000 unnecessary positions in the bureaucracy. I
will cut 100,000 federal government positions through attrition.

Cuts in administrative waste. I will require federal managers and
workers to achieve 3 percent across-the-board administrative sav-
ings in every federal agency.

Cut wasteful government spending programs. To get rid of spending
programs that no longer serve their purpose, I will eliminate
taxpayer subsidies for narrow special interests, reform defense
procurement and foreign aid, and slash boondoggle projects.  Line
item veto. To eliminate pork-barrel projects and cut government
waste, I will ask Congress to give me the line item veto.

Special interest tax. To help put government back in the hands of
the people, I will ask Congress to eliminate the tax deductions
for special interest lobbying expenses. I will also urge Congress
to close the "lawyers' loophole," which allows lawyer-lobbyists
to disguise lobbying activities on behalf of foreign governments
and powerful corporations.

Stop the revolving door. I will require all my top appointees to
sign a pledge that, if they work in my administration, they will
refrain for five years after leaving office from lobbying govern-
ment agencies within their responsibilities. I will require
senior officials to pledge never to become registered agents on
behalf of any foreign government. I will then challenge members
of Congress to do the same.  Lobbyists. I will push for and sign
legislation to toughen and streamline lobbying disclosure. The
new law will require all individuals and groups to register with
the Office of Government Ethics within 30 days after contacting a
federal official, lawmaker or lawmaker's aide. Lobbyists will be
required to report twice a year on their contacts and expenses. I
will instruct the Justice Department to strictly enforce disclo-
sure laws and collect fines. . .

We have to restore the idea that public service is a sacred
trust. Being an elected, appointed, or career public servant is a
noble calling. Some of our elected and appointed officials see
their terms of office as interim steps to high-paying lobbying
jobs. We need to make it abundantly clear that anyone who enters
the federal government comes to serve, not to cash in.Make it a
criminal offense for any foreign government  or individual or
company to attempt to influence American laws or policies by
means of direct or indirect campaign contributions.  Tighten laws
requiring full and prompt disclosure.

Rewrite the foreign agent registration and lobbying laws to close
the loopholes. Today there is not even a clear definition of what
lobbying is. For example, if you don't want to be accused of hir-
ing a lobbyist, you hire a law firm to accomplish the same task.
Forbid any former President, Vice President, cabinet officer,
agency director, Federal Reserve governor, commission director,
White House staffer, trade negotiator, member of the Senate or
House from accepting one penny for any reason from any foreign
interest - ever. Anybody who holds one of these high offices does
so because the American people gave them their trust. That trust
should be honored.

Forbid anyone who has held any position in the federal government
to be a paid lobbyist for any domestic interest for five years
after leaving government. . . .

 Draft a tough ethics code for private citizens who serve as con-
sultants and advisers to the federal government. The federal
government contracts with these private citizens, most of whom
used to work for the government, to do the work that federal em-
ployees could do. These people usually get paid much more than
workers on the federal payroll.  Establish stiff criminal penal-
ties for any abuse or fraud.

Forbid anybody on the payroll of a foreign government or foreign
interest from serving in any capacity, volunteer or paid, in a
presidential or congressional campaign.  Right now, foreign lob-
byists play key roles in both the Democratic and Republican cam-
paigns. That is inexcusable. . . .

At a time when we're asking the American people to make sacri-
fices for their country, why do we allow our politial elites to
live like pampered royalty? . . . <

Move immediately to sell off the 111 civilian aircraft maintained
for discretionary use by federal government executives. Conduct a
case by case review of the remaining 1,100 civilian planes owned
by the federal government that are allotted to different legisla-
tive and executive agencies. Keep the few that are essential.
Eliminate the 89th wing of the air force. It exists solely to
transport top officials around the country. The Cold War is over.
The Vice President doesn't need an air force jet to go play golf.
I don't understand how a chief of staff to the President could
even consider using a government jet to take him to the dentist.

People might say, "Aren't you being a little hard? These people
have giant responsibilities while running huge departments of
government. Most corporate executives never run anything so large
and complex, and they all have corporate jets."

These people work for us. They are our employees.  Unless we take
steps like this, they will continue to believe we work for them.
. . .

 Have the cabinet members spend most of their time outside Wash-
ington answering tough questions and solving real problems. What
good can the Secretary of Education do behind a desk while our
schools are falling apart? How can the Secretary of Health and
Human Services tackle the massive bureaucratic problems of this
system without really understanding the people who encounter
them?

Encourage federal employees to treat citizens as owners.  When
any owner of this country walks into a federal office, that per-
son should be treated with the courtesy and respect that an owner
should receive. We need to restore pride in the federal service
so that our employees will smile every day at the office and be
polite.

Reduce civil service restrictions and allow more discretion so
that federal employees can be more responsive. The word "bureau-
crat" conjures up some bloodless, uncaring robot with a rubber
stamp.  In truth, I've found almost every federal employee I've
encountered to be a dedicated, intelligent professional. We need
to lift restrictions that keep our employees from doing their
best jobs. We need fewer employees and more rewards.

We need to give our officers the tools to do the job. Right now,
for example, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pre-
sides over a department of 13,000 people. By legislative statute
he can only hire or fire 105 of them. It's not surprising that
public housing is a mess.

Drastically cut the White House and executive branch staffs. John
F. Kennedy had a White House staff of 600. George Bush has 1,850.
In 1960, Congress had a total staff of 5,610. Today it has a
staff of over 20,000. What do all these people do?  From my ex-
perience, their main mission is to insulate executive officials
and members of Congress from you, the owners. Their secondary
mission is to make sure their boss gets reelected. Congress and
the executive branch have grown fat, complacent, unwieldy, and
unresponsive. The White House and Congress could easily reduce
their staffs by 30 percent.

Never forget that staffs accomplish very little. All of the ac-
tion is in the field.

Look at the Agriculture Department to see how much the bureaucra-
cy in the executive branch has grown. In 1948, farms employed 20
percent of our population, and the Agriculture Department had
67,000 employees. It was considered a huge bureaucracy. Today
only 2 percent of our people work on farms, but the Agriculture
Department has swollen to 118,000 employees. Instead of creating
a new cabinet office every time a special interest group wants
more attention, we should overhaul and permanently reduce depart-
ments of government so that we can apply our resources where they
will do more good for our people. . . .  We need hands-on problem
solvers out in the field. . . . 02:38 10-26C9999-----

Copyright 1992, The Washington Post.  This story is from the
Washington Post's Capitol Edition On-Line and is not to be ar-
chived or redistributed.

For more information, send-email to American Cybercasting Cor-
poration (usa@AmeriCast.COM)