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February 4, 2008
Whatever Happened With the Big Audit?
Monique Chartier
Though not always asked in the friendliest of tones, this is a good question.
And the answer is: quite a bit. Renamed "Fiscal Fitness" (not to be confused with the Governor's anti-donut "Healthy Weight in 2008" initiative), $279,000,000 was found and saved and the program has not closed up shop.
Some highlights of the 279 mill:
> $25,000,000 over three years in the state employee health insurance contract.
> $750,000/year in record storage expenses.
> On-line renewal of eight trade license categories covering 28,000 professionals.
> $15,000,000 over five years by opening the vehicle Emissions and Safety Testing program to competitive bidding. (This and the record storage. We really ought to check into this open bidding thing more often ...)
10:00 AM
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And the fact that this question still gets asked is a defining example of the abject failure of this administration to demonstrate any public relations skills.
Posted by: Greg at February 4, 2008 10:50 AMIt makes such common sense. But try getting a politician of either party to put the interests of his or her pallies beyond those of the average citizen.
Posted by: rhody at February 4, 2008 11:01 AMGreg, I may be a little biased seeing I worked to help the Governor get elected in '02 and re-elected in '06 but all one has to do is LISTEN and he and many members of his staff are always mentioning the "Fiscal Fitness" (aka Big Audit) Program. Perhaps so much that nobody pays attention anymore?
Posted by: Jake4RI at February 4, 2008 11:44 AMIt's just one of many things that I get a chuckle out of ... it's ALL right there, on the state website for all to see. HEAVEN FORBID anyone bother to look!! How is it a "failure of this administration" when no one can even be bothered to look on their own? Short of someone calling you or mailing you a flyer telling you where it is, (at MORE expense to the state???) why can't people do a little research on their own if they are interested ... IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE!!!! PUBLIC INFO!!! Go figure!
Jake,
I'm not your target audience. The 80 year old Kennedy-lovers are. The inner city residents are. Those who don't listen to talk radio or visit the blogs or even HAVE internet access are.
And Don SUCKS at communicating with those people. When's the last time Don went slumming and did some town hall meetings? When is he going to go to 39 communities and sell his plan to save the state? When is he going to stop counting on hostile television and print journalists to carry his water?
And finally, WTF is Cass being paid to do?! He's an untapped respected resource.
I could run a better administration with three monkeys and a box of chipmunks!
Posted by: Greg at February 4, 2008 11:50 AMGreg,
The only public relations test that counts happens every four years. And it's pass-fail. Carcieri passed both tests he sat for. And for a northeastern Republican to win in 2006 was no small accomplishment. Seems like he's not so bad at PR after all. Although perhaps not good enough for an armchair political strategist like yourself imparting your wisdom over the internet.
Posted by: Pragmatist at February 4, 2008 6:06 PMYeah, I believe he outright lied to the electorate about the economy right before that election. I wonder how it might have turned out if that hasn't been so.
Posted by: Greg at February 4, 2008 6:58 PM