Governor Perdue Introduces Legislation, Constitutional Amendment to Create a Cabinet Form of Government
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2/5/10 Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced that Senator Bill Heath, the Governor’s Floor Leader in the Senate, is introducing legislation and a Constitutional Amendment to create a cabinet form of government. Under the proposal the heads of the state’s Agricultural, Insurance, Education, and Labor departments would be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation. “This proposal will result in better government for Georgians,” Governor Perdue said. “It will ensure that agency heads are focused on good policy, and not bogged down with the politics of running for re-election.” Currently, only nine states elect Commissioners of Agriculture, 12 states elect Insurance Commissioners, 14 states elect State School Superintendents, and five states elect state labor commissioners. “This is an opportunity to create a more efficient and cohesive government,” said Sen. Heath. “We will have professionals running agencies who will be directly accountable to the Governor and legislature every single day they are serving.” The agencies that would be appointed by the Governor under
this proposal have almost 6,000 employees and budgets of more
than $7.5 billion. “This measure will allow us to take the politics out of what
are administrative and policy positions,” said Majority Leader
Jerry Keen. “Sometimes the best policies are not the best
politics, and the people in those jobs should be free to make
the best policy decisions for the state of If the General Assembly approves, the Constitutional
Amendment would be on the ballot this November for approval by
the voters. Those currently running for these offices would be
able to serve a full term upon winning, and the positions would
be appointed by the Governor that is elected in 2014. “A vast majority of states have these offices as a part of
the executive cabinet,” said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers.
“Clearly there would be cost savings and efficiency improvement
if this were the case in |
State & National Politics |
