COMMENTARY | Suddenly, reorganizing government seems to be a good idea for President Barack Obama as he enters what could be the last year of his presidency. On Friday, Obama asked Congress for authority to consolidate six federal agencies to save money and promote efficiencies.
Associated Press reported the president wants to consolidate six federal agencies that have overlapping responsibilities and includes eliminating the current Commerce Department. Obama's proposal would ask Congress to guarantee a vote on his plan within 90 days if it reduced the size of government and saved money. These aren't original ideas -- Ronald Reagan proposed them 30 years ago.
It is good to know Obama has discovered as he is about to enter the fourth year of his presidency that the federal government might be too big and could use some paring. There are probably dozens of departments and agencies that could be eliminated or consolidated, but it's rare to see a request to do so, especially if it means cutting sacrosanct federal jobs.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he would give the proposal a thorough review. I hope he does. Any idea that saves taxpayers money and makes the enormous federal government more efficient is worth examining in depth. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, was less optimistic and said through a spokesman that Obama's streamlining efforts might not actually help business.
The president also elevated the administrator of the Small Business Administration to cabinet-level status on Friday, Associated Press reported. I'm sure that was meant to show his "strong" commitment to small business, but if his proposal is enacted, that job would disappear completely -- a strange tactic for sure.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome, Obama has finally decided to do something about the size of government. This idea sounds like something that incoming White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew would champion, so it's quite possible we are already witnessing the influence of a new sheriff in the West Wing.
Consolidating government and saving money are two worthy goals. But they're not going to happen with a divided Congress amidst an election year. Good try though.
jim jones hcm loretta lynn gene kelly zoe saldana andrew bailey zooey deschanel and joseph gordon levitt
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