Budget cuts

Budget cuts

Discussion Question

Question 1. If you were a governor, would you make budget cuts across the board or use some special criteria (suggest some good ones) to pick and choose?

Budget cutting has become one of the common and unpleasant tactics used by governors cross United States to confront some of the financial problems facing their states.  Budget cuts allow governors to do more with less. As a governor I would not cut the budget across the board but instead use specific criteria including: freeing state hiring opportunities, Reduce retirement costs, Provide incentives for early retirement, Renegotiate labor contracts, Use technology to reduce fraud, abuse, and overpayments, and  Sell or Lease Government Assets and Enterprises.  The reason why I would use these criteria is because across-the-board cut would penalize the leanest and most efficient agencies. For instance, across-the-board cut will also impact Medicaid agencies which would affects millions of people who seek Medicaid services during difficult budget times like the one the state is currently facing. Besides, Medicaid is partially funded by the federal government.

Question2.  Depending on what choice you make, what are the potential negative ramification for your administration in term of loss of political support in the legislature and at the local level, short-and long-term damage to important programs, reduced state civil service employee morale, and the like?

The loss of political support I the legislature would affect my administration ability to pass some key policies program that could be of benefit to my state. For instance, the policy making process would take long to be enacted due to opposition from the opposing legislature. In worst case scenario, the proposed policies would be rejected in the legislature thus bring a halt to my administration capability of solving some of the state’s budget problems.

Question3. What do you think about the cuts so far? Which one would you change and why?

I think the proposed cuts are well analyze and if implemented will have moderate impact on service deliveries to the general public. However, I would change the plan to cut inspection programs because it will result in more health hazards that will cost the state more money. For instance, Chief of Staff Shirley Cohan noted, “Now, in regards to the inspection program, we had the nursing home fire last month that killed three residents…”

Question4. Will the budget cuts so far result in increased health problem?

To some extend the proposed budget cuts will increase the health problems in the state. First, cutting the autism project commissioned by the first lady would lead to increase health deterioration of patients with autism and as a result the health facilities within the state will be strained due to increasing cases of autism related problems. Also, terminating the oral health program meant for the training rural hygienist would increase the problem of oral problems among the elderly has no specialist will be available to train the on oral hygiene. The states plan of to reduce safety and inspections in hospitals will increases health and hazard issues to rise without having proper procedures and equipments to eliminate them. For instance, Chief of Staff Shirley Cohan noted, “Now, in regards to the inspection program, we had the nursing home fire last month that killed three residents…”

Question5. What are some reasons why capital expenditure, such as those for the new health department building on Vine Street, is usually not included in such budget cuts as these?

Capital expenditure such as those for new health department building on vine street represent contracts that the state signed with outside sources  and therefore breaking such contracts are always a lengthy judicial process that in the long run consumes more state resources in terms of legal fees and compensations. Also, it will be unprofessional and unethical for the state to cancel its contract with companies already assigned to supply the necessary equipments for the new health department building. Besides, the state may have undertaken lengthy debates and negation over the said building, and a comparable agreement might have been to construct the new department. Under these conditions, it would be bad idea to have second thoughts.

Question6. Which of the remaining four programs do you cut to total another $1 million? Why? Or, instead, do you recommend cutting some of the programs that were previously cut even more? Why

Without a second thought I would cut the governor’s wife autism project that is aimed at creating awareness about autism in the state. Additionally, I would cut off the Arthritis Preventive Program created by the four senor senators. The autism project and arthritis preventive program are not needed in the state because they does not fit into the state’s mission of the public health department. Also, the project has not been started and is known to be pet or favoritism project for the governor’s wife who recently adopted a profound autism patient.

Question 7

To market the programs after cut, the state government can combine the programs with other actively ongoing programs within the state.

The physicians and nurses of the state are not obliged to follow the directive of the state official rather they should follow the ethical values of their profession and need of their clients.