New Deloitte Playbook Details Bold Actions to Help Governors, Legislative Leaders Transform State Government

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Jan 05, 2011, 08:51 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte has released a new guidebook for governors and legislative leaders featuring practical and hard-hitting recommendations on a wide range of topics, from cost reduction to health care reform. "Letting Go of the Status Quo: A Playbook for Transforming State Government," aims to give new state government leaders a crash course in how to position their states for future prosperity.

"This Playbook is the definitive guide for new governors and legislators who want to back up their campaign themes with bold action, and who want to position their states to thrive in the years ahead," said Robert N. Campbell III, vice chairman and state government sector leader for Deloitte LLP, and co-author of the book. "The Playbook is a must read for those who want to heed the voters' call for change and get back to the basics, especially job creation, debt reduction and economic prosperity."

Co-authored by William D. Eggers, who leads Deloitte's global public sector research, and Tiffany Dovey Fishman, also of Deloitte's research group, the Playbook details the priorities that state leaders need to address to turn big ideas into big results.

The Playbook lays out a comprehensive roadmap for transforming state government in the following areas:

Cost Reduction – The cumulative state fiscal gap could reach $119 billion or more by the end of FY 2011. From day-one, legislators should consider cost cutting and streamlining state government to live within its means.
Improving State Competitiveness – States not only compete against each other for jobs, talent and investments, but other nations as well. States that are determined to move beyond their hard times and recharge their vitality should consider focusing on competitiveness boosters like revitalizing infrastructure, pursuing education reform and reinventing economic development.
Transforming Health and Human Services – Health and Human Services weigh heavily on state budgets. At the same time, states are at the center of the most significant health care system transformation in decades. Despite the challenges in Washington and the courts over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, states have a compelling need to control healthcare costs and improve health outcomes.
Overhauling State Operations – By making state government more innovative, more technologically proficient, and more attuned to emerging needs, leaders have the chance to regain public trust while also addressing the new challenges of the 21st century.
Getting it Done: Big Ideas to Big Results – In order to be successful, government leaders should become highly proficient at transforming their big ideas into initiatives, which achieve intended results.

"The new legislative season will be marked by the entrance of the largest freshman class of governors since 1936," said Eggers, the author of six previous books on government reform. "These newcomers, regardless of party, campaigned to reduce costs, create jobs and make government more efficient. In order to deliver on these promises they will have to enact bold change and let go of the status quo."

To download a copy of Letting Go of the Status Quo: A Playbook for Transforming State Government, please visit www.deloitte.com/us/stategovplaybook

For more information about Deloitte's state government services practice, please visit http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_US/us/Industries/us-state-government/index.htm .

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.

SOURCE Deloitte