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The Waste Exterminator

(from the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions)

As director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Mitch Daniels was known as “The Blade.” Now, Daniels brings his version of fiscal frugality to Indiana as the Hoosier State’s 49th governor.

In less than a year as governor, Daniels has succeeded in collecting nearly $2 million in revenue just by initiating the sale of surplus state vehicles. He ended the $200,000 annual practice of notifying drivers that their licenses will soon expire; directed the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to buy instead of rent floor mats at its state office, saving $267,000 this year alone; eliminated bottled water for BMV employees, saving $35,000; and changed the state lottery newsletter from a semimonthly to monthly publication and the print from color to black and white, resulting in savings of 21,670 greenbacks.

As OMB director, Daniels viciously opposed pork-barrel spending supported by many members of Congress. He once said that Congress’ motto should be: “Don’t just stand there, spend something.”

Considering the savings he’s already squeezed since becoming governor, it appears Washington’s loss has become Indiana taxpayers’ gain. Perhaps some of that passion for creating more fiscal accountability will flow over the banks of the Ohio River and into Kentucky, where Frankfort’s policymakers have shown very little tolerance for exterminating wasteful spending.

There was that one time – back in early 2004 – when Gov. Ernie Fletcher saved taxpayers about $400,000 by tackling the disposing of many junked and unneeded Parks Department vehicles still covered by insurance. And, he saved about $150,000 a year by curtailing the use of procurement cards during the early days of his administration. Since then, there’s been nary a peep in Frankfort about trimming fat and eliminating waste.

Sources:

“Biography of Mitch Daniels” State of Indiana

“Parks system transformed in first six months” Kentucky Department of Parks

“What is it about Indiana?” by George Will, Townhall.com, Nov. 27, 2005

Next page: Governor keeps fighting for school choice

This text is part of the larger publication:
Bluegrass Digest Vol. 3 No. 12

The Bluegrass Institute is an independent research and educational institution offering free-market solutions to Kentucky's most pressing problems.

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