Quantcast
MobileRJ | RSS TwitterTwitter FacebookFacebook E-mail Alerts
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon

sponsored by
News
May. 01, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gibbons appoints penny pincher

Ex-printer tapped to improve efficiency

By ED VOGEL
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Former U.S. Public Printer Bruce James was named Wednesday by Gov. Jim Gibbons to serve as chairman of a state commission to look at ways to improve government efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.

James, 65, a Lake Tahoe resident, will head the 12-member Nevada Savings and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission.

Most Popular Stories
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • FATAL SHOOTING: Police again mourn comrade
  • NORM: Biden finds rank has its privileges
  • Corrections officer dies in collision on U.S. 95
  • Two suspects in officer's slaying could face death penalty
  • Two of three suspects in slaying of officer could face death penalty
  • DEADLY HOME INVASION: Police suspect link to family
  • U.S. HIGHWAY 95 CRASH: Longtime LV officer mourned
  • ANOTHER SOMBER DAY: Fourth officer in short span dies
  • NORM: 'Girls Gone Wild' creator feels heat




    • Gibbons wants the commission to find ways to save money, while improving efficiency and customer service.

    In coming days, Gibbons will appoint five more members to the commission and request that legislative leaders appoint the six remaining members. He formally will introduce James as chairman of the SAGE Commission at the May 7 meeting of his cabinet.

    The appointment of the commission comes at a time when Gibbons and legislators have been forced to cut state spending by $914 million because of an economic downturn. Recovery is not expected at least until after the 2009 Legislature.

    "This commission will identify ways the public can streamline its operations and maximize the use of taxpayer dollars, all while better serving the public," Gibbons said in a prepared statement. "I'm not interested in another study that sits on a shelf and collects dust."

    James spent five years as the nation's "public printer," a position in which he was chief executive officer of the U.S. Government Printing Office. He oversaw production of materials for all three branches of government.

    That work included printing the Congressional Record and the Federal Register. He was appointed to the post by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate on Nov. 22, 2002.

    Previously, James spent his working career as a private printer who founded San Francisco companies that pioneered the use of computers in producing electronic images.

    After earning millions in private industry, James retired from business in 1993 and moved to Nevada.

    He made a brief run for the U.S. Senate, with former President Ford showing up at his announcement ceremony in 1997.

    Gibbons said other members of the commission will include business leaders with proven records of creating efficiencies and cost savings in their organizations.

    "The more we can save by implementing operating efficiencies, the better we can meet the needs of our state with the resources we have," Gibbons said.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 4 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    UNLVStud wrote on May 01, 2008 10:16 AM: This is a good thing. Maybe the only good thing to come out of this administration. It would've been more impressive if he set up this commission in 2007!

    I personally can't wait for them to be done with their report. I doubt they're going to find much waste. Gov. Guinn did a lot of reorganization and cost saving measures before 2003. I'm guessing that the "cost savings" they come up with won't be anything substantial. It will be a nice report to shut up the right wing with.

    After this study, their needs to be a follow up report done on what funding is needed to bring our services, such as education & infrastructure, to an adequate level. Then a real debate about the financial situation of our State can be had.


    Caezar Chavez wrote on May 01, 2008 08:15 AM: The root of this problem is nutty Bob Beers and crazed Assemblywoman Angle. We had a chance to set taxes at a reasonable level and we had to give it all back to the fat cats. Bravo right wing nut jobs, and carpetbagging Sun City leeches. Bravo! You old, fat, white people have yours, hole up in your bunkers and keep the "colored" masses at bay. A new day is coming, better learn Spanish! You'll all get yours politically within the next ten years, and we won't forget what you've done to us!!


    springcleaning wrote on May 01, 2008 06:53 AM: Gibbons can't run his household so why do you think he is qualified to appoint people to run ours?
    It's time to call in cheery maids and clean this place up


    rjC wrote on May 01, 2008 06:16 AM: What's this highly paid guy going to do? Print more money. With all the talent in state government, how hard is it to figure out. A simple math problem. The state spends more money than it brings in. It's a shame that we have that problem. Three solutions- 1) We bill everyone for the use of our Nuke dump. They bring it anyway. 2) All the citations written by NHP, the state gets very little to nothing. The fines go primarily to the counties/cities. The intake of revenue is incredible. 3) Regarding redirected fines, the state legislators should enact a law for judges/courts to reduce penalties, but not the fine amount. Again, the current discount is more than generous.
    When presented a problem, offer solutions to discuss. Any other ideas?