For Immediate Release
January 29, 2007
Contact: Representative Don Humason (413) 568-1366
HUMASON ANNOUNCES $10,000 REWARD TO FIX MASS GOVERNMENT
Don Humason, Westfield’s State Representative, is announcing a unique and exciting opportunity for citizens to improve the way government works in Massachusetts.
The Pioneer Institute, a non-profit research group, is sponsoring the 16th Annual Better Government Competition, which seeks ideas from individuals about ways to improve the quality of government services and deliver them more efficiently.
This competition will provide an opportunity for people across the Baystate to make an impact on public policy issues with which the Legislature is currently dealing.
The Better Government Competition asks entrants to draft policy ideas for streamlining state and municipal government. Past winners have tackled such diverse problems as pollution control, Medicaid, child welfare, and the special education system. Since the first Better Government Competition, the implementation of winning ideas has saved Massachusetts taxpayers an estimated $300 million.
An independent panel of judges - drawn from academia, business, government, and the media - will reward proposals to streamline administration, consolidate functions, improve procurement, and/or enhance service quality and efficiency.
“Making government more efficient should always be our goal and I urge my constituents to participate by sending in an entry,” said Representative Humason from his Beacon Hill office today. “We have a long way to go before our State Government is as responsive as it should be and I hope this contest will help us in the Legislature with new ideas how we can achieve this.”
The winning entrant will receive a $10,000 prize, and runners-up will receive $1000 prizes. The BGC Awards Dinner, to be held in June of 2007, will announce the winners and celebrate their efforts on behalf of Massachusetts’ taxpayers.
“Getting the citizens of the Commonwealth more involved in thinking about the work of government and public service is a core piece of what a place like Pioneer is about,” said Jim Stergios, Executive Director of Pioneer Institute. “We greatly appreciate Rep. Humason working with us to broaden our ability to attract good ideas from across the state.”
To learn more about the Better Government Competition, please visit www.pioneerinstitute.org/bgc, or contact Shawni Littlehale at 617-723-2277 or slittlehale@pioneerinstitute.org.
Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us |