FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rhonda Porter: 402-391-2273, Dave Nabity: 402-618-6759

Nabity Only Candidate Outlining Budget Cuts
Nabity Diet Plan for Government

(Omaha, NE—November 16, 2005) Today, during a tour across the state, Dave Nabity, Republican candidate for Governor, unveiled his strategies for streamlining Nebraska’s state government.

Nabity said, “It is time to put state government on a diet. Nebraskans deserve a modernized and streamlined government that brings tax relief for our citizens. The idea that nothing can be done, that all we can do is try to grow the economy to bring tax relief, is hogwash. Many other states have attacked bloated budgets with a variety of successful techniques to bring tax relief. Here are 10 proven strategies I would promote as governor of Nebraska:

1. Reduce Duplication and Redundancy. Use results-based budgeting and merge overlapping agencies to reduce redundancy. Adopt an enterprise approach to IT spending, consolidate state data centers and see to it that agencies learn and use new technologies. Consolidate smaller agencies and merge business functions of high-cost school districts through effective sharing arrangements.

2. Use New Technologies. Government agencies need to become better shoppers. They should use new technology to procure goods and services online, allow customers to serve themselves, and cut fraud, waste and abuse.

3. Grade Performance of Programs. Review and grade performance of all state programs. Continue to fund high performers, and reduce or eliminate payments to poor performers. Tie funding of higher education to performance.

4. Apply Anti-Trust Policies to Government. Government should not compete with private industry. Perform a competition review to identify where government is competing directly with the private sector. Identify other opportunities to bring competitive pressure to government services to reduce costs and improve services.

5. Reform Entitlement Programs. Adopt market-based, consumer-choice Medicaid reform. Reduce costs with targeted approaches, adopt “pay after performance” models and introduce co-pays. Use technology to reduce fraud, abuse and overpayments. Review services to determine what is really necessary.

6. Privatize Government Assets. Identify government assets that offer privatization opportunities. Over the years, the state has accumulated land and assets that it no longer needs. If sold, these assets can be put to better use in the private sector, which will lead to more growth and opportunity. Provide incentives for agencies to turn physical capital into financial capital in this way and put those assets on the tax rolls. Identify “cost of capital” charges on agency assets.

7. Streamline Workforce Costs. Use technology to streamline tasks. Review total state employees per capita, eliminate phantom positions and provide incentives for early retirement. Update labor agreements and benefit packages to more closely mirror private sector jobs.

8. Reward Employees for Saving Money. Establish an employee incentive and gainsharing program for those willing to identify and carry out more efficient ways of operating programs. Tie bonuses to budget reduction targets and replace longevity pay with performance pay.

9. Create Budget Savings Brigades. Establish a periodic performance review process for all areas of state government and political subdivisions. Establish sunset provisions on all new programs that require state spending. We have plenty of committees at work thinking of new ways to spend money—why not have at least one devoted to cutting wasteful spending. This committee will require all programs to justify their existence.

10. Create Taxpayer Protection Strategies. Adopt the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, which limits increases in state spending to inflation rates plus population growth. Freeze spending and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) temporarily, until economic growth reaches defined benchmarks.

“These are budget savings strategies that will be part of my administration when I am governor. We cannot continue to ignore the need to make Nebraska government more efficient. Other states have implemented these strategies and have proven their worthiness. It is time for us to innovate, streamline and modernize in Nebraska, so we can become one of the most efficient states in the nation and bring tax relief quickly to our citizens.

“Nebraska is at the bottom of the list when it comes to state economic growth. We are the eighth-highest-taxed state in America. These are two rankings we can no longer tolerate. Retirees are voting with their feet—moving to places with lower taxes. Young Nebraskans look for career opportunities elsewhere after receiving the great education we provide.

“Nebraska, we can do better. It’s time for new ideas, a new vision and a new Nebraska. Let’s modernize the way we do business. Let’s earn the right to say we are the ‘Jewel of the Midwest.’”

Dave Nabity for Governor
9140 West Dodge, Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 391-2273
www.davenabity.com