Government Reform

By Christopher J. Amentas

Every year we hear politicians say they want to shrink the size of government and reduce spending. However, annually, more laws and regulations get added to the books while nothing comes off. For obvious reasons, this makes cost-cutting a difficult proposition.

2. Eliminate statutes and regulations that serve only a marginal public purpose. Fewer regulations equal a smaller government, less spending, and greater freedoms for our families, seniors, and the next generation.

3. Eliminate expensive, non-essential government programs that do not contribute significantly to public health, safety and welfare.

4. End the waste of taxpayer money. Lawmakers must work with regulators to identify areas where spending can be cut without compromising critical functions or service. This can be done through better coordination with department heads, quality control measures, and reporting requirements.

5. Eliminate prevailing wage legislation. Prevailing wage legislation mandates public entities pay the same fixed (prevailing) wage to workers on public projects regardless of market conditions. For example, the prevailing wage in Lancaster County is exactly the same as in Philadelphia, despite lower costs. This antiquated system simply drives up costs for governments at all levels and, ultimately, for taxpayers.