Shrinking Government

Hutchinson right to propose state streamline departments

Back in 1971, then-Gov. Dale Bumpers asked the Arkansas Legislature to streamline state government. Specifically, reduce the number of agencies from 60 to just 13 cabinet-level departments.

Bumpers said the legislation would cut costs and increase efficiency. It was also an attempt to curb corruption as many of the agencies reported to the governor, but were not really responsible to him. That meant many of these agencies acted as their own political fiefdoms.

The Legislature agreed and Act 38 of 1971 was passed. It was the first truly significant reorganization of Arkansas government in decades.

Current Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants to do much the same.

Over the years the number of agencies has grown again as the number of state agencies has mushroomed to 42 at the cabinet level.

The governor hopes to reduce that number to no more than 20.

There are also more than 200 boards and commissions in the state. All will be reviewed.

Hutchinson plans to submit a final proposal for consideration by the 2019 General Assembly.

In our view this sounds like a fine idea. Left to its own devices, government grows and grows, taking up more precious taxpayer-funded resources. In an era when so many are being told to “do more with less,” there is no reason our government shouldn’t do so as well.

We applaud the governor on his initiative. We look forward to seeing his final proposal.