By: Anna
Lafferre Anna
Lafferre is the director of the Center for Government Performance at the
Performance Institute. Much
like Jefferson Smith in Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, President-elect Barack Obama quit his life in his hometown to move to
Washington this week. One can only imagine what was running through his mind
when he landed at Andrews Air Force Base, prepared to begin his life as the
world’s most powerful man. Even
though he is not president yet, we’ve heard a lot of his opinions: everything
from the government needing to use technology more effectively to college
football needing to change to a playoff system. Arguably
one of his most important decisions is the budget cuts and program reviews he
has promised to make to improve the federal government by rooting out wasteful
programs. Obama named Nancy Killefer as Chief Performance Officer (CPO)
Wednesday, a new position he outlined in his performance plan, which he
released last fall. The CPO will report directly to the president and will also
be responsible for leading a White House “SWAT Team” composed of top-performing
and highly trained government professionals to set tough performance targets
and hold managers responsible for progress. However, complicating the matter is
the fact that many things in the federal budget just cannot be cut—either
because it is a necessity (Homeland Security) or because cutting it would mean
political suicide (health care). Simply put,
cutting spending from the federal budget is not as easy as clipping coupons for
Saturday’s trip to Super Wal-Mart. The
Associated Press reported that a member of the transition team, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said that nothing will be considered off the table, at
least for discussion, when considering budget cuts. The annual
federal budget is $3 trillion, and it will take a lot of work to discover which
programs funded by this budget can go. But it’s a necessary step in curbing
federal spending and making government more efficient. As Obama
said, “We will go though our federal budget—page by page, line by
line—eliminating those programs we don’t need and insisting that those we do
operate in a sensible, cost-effective way.” Like
Jefferson Smith’s plan to introduce a bill in his first month in Congress,
Obama has been preparing his economic stimulus plan that will soon become a
bill before Congress. The plan, which is expected to cost at least $775
billion, is intended to boost America’s troubled economy, the Associated Press
reports. Not only will this plan help turn the economy around, but Obama also
promises it will set a "new higher standard of accountability,
transparency and oversight.” It is likely that Congress will approve a version
of this bill within the next few weeks, as Democrats control both the House and
Senate. With this promise of an economic stimulus, Obama also warns, however,
that the nation is facing a deficit (currently at around $1 trillion) for years
to come. Whether you
voted for Obama or not, it is clear that the United States is facing some large
issues: defense, the economy and homeland security to name a few. While it may
be easier to cheer on fictional Jefferson Smith as he navigates his way through
the Capitol, it is just as necessary to cheer Obama on as well, in hopes that
he and his appointees can cross party lines and get things done. Do you
think this economic stimulus package will succeed in fulfilling its mission to
set a "new higher standard of accountability, transparency and oversight”
in the federal government?