November 05, 2009 | Press Releases
Denish Outlines Reform Proposals to Save the State Millions
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Diane announced a series of reforms that, if adopted, could save the state millions of dollars. Diane called for (1) a major overhaul of the state’s capital outlay process, (2) an immediate end to “double-dipping” by certain state employees, and (3) better use of technology to streamline government operations.
During these challenging economic times, we must act boldly to make our state government leaner and more fiscally responsible. Before anyone talks about further cuts to education or health care, we simply must do everything possible to make government more efficient. Taken together, these reforms will save the state millions of dollars, generate economic activity in both the short term and long term, and provide greater accountability to the public for how their tax dollars are spent. New Mexico families are tightening their belts and government must do the same.
Read the news reports from Diane’s announcement:
Denish outlines how she’d cut the budget
By Kate Nash, Green Chile Chatter
At a press conference in Albuquerque, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish this morning called for three budget-cutting steps she says could save the state millions.
They include overhauling the state's capital outlay process; ending double dipping by state employees and better using technology to make government more efficient.
"During these challenging economic times, we must act boldly to make our state government leaner and more fiscally responsible," she said in a statement.
Denish wants to end double dipping
By Peter St. Cyr, NM Politics.net
Lieutenant governor also pushes for saving money through capital outlay reform and improving state government’s use of technology
Last spring Gov. Bill Richardson vetoed a bill that would have ended the practice of double-dipping by state employees, with a few exceptions for public safety positions. Today, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said she wants the state to eliminate “lucrative loopholes for double-dippers” — state employees who are rehired after retiring and receive both a state salary and a pension.
“We need to be tackle the double-dipping that we’ve heard so much about,” Denish said. “Change the system so certain employees are no longer allowed to game the system (and) get the extra paycheck. It’s not fair. The state can’t afford it.”
Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray
By Trip Jennings, NM Independent
Anyone interpreting Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia’s governor’s races Tuesday as a harbinger of a GOP upset next year in New Mexico, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has a ready reply.
“I’ve lived in New Mexico all my life. I’ve never known New Mexicans to take a cue from the East Coast,” Denish said Wednesday during a late morning news conference in Albuquerque.
It was a jaunty, even witty, rejoinder in an otherwise sober event.
Denish calls for overhaul of capital outlays
New Mexico Business Weekly
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said Wednesday that overhauling New Mexico’s capital outlay program, eliminating so-called double-dipping by state employees and making better use of technology could go a long way in reducing the state’s $650 million budget deficit.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish Announces Reform Proposals to Save New Mexicans Millions of Dollars
By Barbara Wold, DFNM
Citing the national recession and the state’s current budget shortfall, Lt. Governor Diane Denish today announced a series of reforms that she claims, if adopted, could save the state millions of dollars. She's clearly taking a proactive stance in proposing measures she'd like to see taken up by the New Mexico Legislature in January.
Denish proposes switch to Google Apps
By LP, NM FBIHOP
Lt. Governor, and gubernatorial candidate, Diane Denish unveiled her reform proposals today, designed to streamline government and save money. Included was her proposal calling for state government to switch "the state from current systems to Google Apps", which Denish says "could generate as much as $1.9 million in recurring savings."
Google itself spoke about using Google Apps for government in September. Google Apps is part of the online marketplace Apps.gov, which allows federal agencies to purchase IT services from a variety of vendors.
