Gov. Walker creates bipartisan Commission on Government Reform, Efficiency, and Performance

MADISON — A new bipartisan commission created by Gov. Scott Walker to make government more efficient is meeting for the first time.

Walker created the commission on government reform, efficiency and performance by executive order earlier this week. Its first meeting was set for Thursday, November 5th in the Capitol. Walker was scheduled to attend.

Walker says the commission will "focus on evaluating innovative solutions to ensure government continues to perform well and at a good value."

He says it will look at ways to reduce government spending, reduce service duplication, and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

It will be led by John Shiely, the former CEO of Briggs & Stratton and Scott Neitzel, secretary of Walker's Department of Administration.

Gov. Walker issued this statement following the first meeting of the Commission on Government Reform, Efficiency, and Performance:

"We asked the Commission members to be good stewards of the taxpayer’s dollars, to identify ways to increase efficiencies, cut waste, and maintain an appropriate government that is not too big or too broad.  It isn’t necessary to sacrifice performance of government programs to maintain the efficient allocation of taxpayer dollars.  Just as successful private sector organizations find cost and performance balance, state government should do the same, and this commission will help us as we work to achieve this goal."