Panel ends study of state operations

For months now, the State Government Review Commission has been meeting around the state and listening to ways to improve the efficiency of state government in Missouri. Today the group will formally vote on some 88 proposals. We look forward to their suggestions.

The 20-member panel is a largely conservative group of Republicans who has studied ways to reduce spending, improve efficiency and eliminate duplication among other issues. The hope is that this group will arrive at recommendations that can then be implemented. But there is not total agreement on all of the issues and today's voting could be interesting itself.

One area that might be up for discussion is the very size of state government in Missouri. Just how many state workers does it take to effectively provide the services needed and required by state residents? That point alone could prompt some interesting discussion.

We have great hopes for the outcome of today's voting. The group of dynamic business, government and civic leaders was given the opportunity to look into all phases of state government and make prudent, conservative recommendations. We can only hope they succeed.

But even with this group's recommendations, it will still take leadership from Gov. Matt Blunt and the state legislature to implement many of the suggestions. Blunt alone may be able to implement some of the changes offered. We'll just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, we offer our hope that this Commission has faced the tough questions in state government and done what is best for the residents of Missouri. Their suggestions may be painful for some but in the long-run, we have faith their ideas will improve state government.