Article Body
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, S.D. 57501
(605) 773-3212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Sept. 12, 2011
CONTACT: Tony Venhuizen or Joe Kafka at 605-773-3212
Governor Announces “Better Government” Initiative
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard today announced a state initiative to cut red tape, make state government more open, and bolster online e-government.
The “Better Government” initiative began shortly after the Governor took office in January to focus on open and efficient management of state government.
“I believe that a big part of my responsibility as Governor is to see to it that South Dakota state government is operated in the best fashion possible,” Gov. Daugaard said. “In short, I want to make sure that government works for the people of South Dakota.”
The “Better Government” initiative has already achieved numerous accomplishments, including identification of hundreds of sections of state regulations that can be repealed; releasing invitation lists of Governor’s events; opening of the Governor’s Mansion to the public; and transition to full online interaction for several state licenses, processes, and programs.
“My goal is to create a culture in state government that is centered around the citizens, the voters, the taxpayers we serve,” Gov. Daugaard said. “By constantly striving to cut red tape, to be more open, and to put more online we are creating a state government that is a better steward of tax dollars and a better servant of our people.”
The “Better Government” initiative is ongoing and features several plans to advance the goals outlined in today’s announcement. Follow the progress of the initiative at http://sd.gov/bettergovernment .
Among “Better Government” accomplishments to date:
· Identifying 386 sections of state law that can be repealed and more than 43,000 words of regulatory language that are not needed
· Announcement that the invitation lists for the Governor’s Golf Classic, the Governor’s Pheasant Hunt, and the Governor’s Buffalo Roundup will be released each year, omitting only the names of business prospects
· Opening Valhalla (Governor Norbeck’s cabin in Custer State Park) for regular public tours, and making public the list of those who stay at the cabin
· Opening the Governor’s Mansion for regular public tours for the first time
· Improving the Open.SD.gov website to include even more state financial information and make it easier to search for state contract details and information on state employees’ salaries
· Providing more detailed information online from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
· Using social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to broaden public communication
· Making it easier for private citizens and businesses to connect with state government and be better served by improving online interaction for such things as business license applications, tax returns, and license plate renewals.
-30-