Posted by
John R. LaPlante on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 12:22:10 PM
Keeping government on track and in its place requires that citizens tell lawmakers to say “No” to various attempts to overstep its bounds with unneeded regulations, special interest favors, and inappropriate government programs.
It also helps to remind those who spend the public’s money of some key principles of spending that money. The Texas Public Policy Foundation offers some tips in its document (PDF) Principles for Determining Budget Priorities. In this 8-page policy brief, Talmadge Heflin and Bryon Schlomach, Ph.D., discuss steps for determining whether a program should exist, and if so, how to set priorities among various programs.
Observing the principles, which are set forth in a Q&A format, works best with solid information. For example: do the benefits of a program or agency clearly outweigh the costs? Unfortunately, some government efforts are created and sustained as a result of anecdotes or isolated problems.