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Center for Government Reform

Launched in 2007, the Center for Government Reform’s mission is to partner with stakeholders and citizens to work toward a government focused on its core functions while improving its transparency, accountability, performance, and effectiveness for taxpayers. The Center's objectives include using the power and principles of the free market to change and improve the culture of government, focus government spending and programs on its core functions, adopt structural budget reforms, ensure taxpayers dollars are spent efficiently and effectively, adopt government transparency reforms and ensure government remains open and accountable to the citizens it serves.

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Learning from the Past and Creating our Future (keynote address at WPC’s 2008 Government Reform Conference)
April 15, 2008
"I am here to tell you, our Republic is at risk. Washington is out of touch and out of control. I’ve had the good fortune of going to 26 states and 40 cities as part of the “Fiscal Wake‐Up Tour” during the last two years. I’ve been to a number of other states, and many more cities in my capacity of the role as Comptroller General of the Unites States, and now in my capacity as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. America is a great country. We’ve accomplished a tremendous amount over the last two hundred plus years. We’re the only super power on earth today, but this is temporary. There will be at least one more super power within twenty years. While we are number one in many things, we are not number one in all things . . . "

Emergency clause usage drops
April 14, 2008
The Legislature’s use of referendum-denying emergency clauses dropped from 14 percent of all bills passed in 2007 to seven percent this year--the lowest percentage over the past decade.  Despite this reduction in the number of emergency clauses used by the Legislature, constitutional reforms are still needed to guarantee the people’s right of referendum . . .

Governor signs WPC proposal for searchable budget website

April 1, 2008
Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law today SB 6818 (Promoting transparency in state expenditures). The bill is based on Washington Policy Center’s (WPC) recommendation for the state to adopt a searchable budget website. It passed the legislature unanimously. “We are pleased to see state officials make improving citizen access to details on state spending a priority by adopting this reform,” said Jason Mercier, director of WPC’s Center Government Reform. “The state’s new searchable budget website will help connect taxpayers with the spending decisions being made on their behalf by shining a light on what is being purchased and accomplished with their tax dollars.” Legislative supporters of increased budget transparency are also pleased to see this reform enacted . . .

 bill signing

More Government Reform Publications

The Center for Government Reform

Launched in 2007, The Center for Government Reform mission is to partner with stakeholders and citizens to work toward a government focused on its core functions while improving its transparency, accountability, performance, and effectiveness for taxpayers.  The Center's objectives include using the power and principles of the free market to change and improve the culture of government, focus government spending and programs on its core functions, adopting structural budget reforms, ensuring taxpayers dollars are spent efficiently and effectively, adopting government transparency reforms and ensuring government remains open and accountable to the citizens it serves. Jason Mercier

Director Jason Mercier

Jason Mercier is the Director for the Center for Government Reform. Prior to joining Washington Policy Center, Jason served as Director of Evergreen Freedom Foundation's Economic Policy Center.  He is a voting member on the American Legislative Exchange Council's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force and is a contributing editor of the Heartland Institute's Budget & Tax News.  Jason also serves as Treasurer on the board of the Washington Coalition for Open Government and was an advisor to the 2002 Washington State Tax Structure Committee.  He received a B.A. in Political Science from Washington State University.

Contact Information

For questions or for more information from the Center for Government Reform please e-mail jmercier@washingtonpolicy.org.

Past events:

Government Reform 2008: Making Government Work for Taxpayers
April 15, 2008 - SeaTac, WA
8:30 am - 1:30 pm

On April 15, tax day, state and national policy experts gathered in Seattle for WPC's Government Reform conference. Two interactive panels discussed budget and tax policy reform issues, as well as budget accountability, performance, and the role of government. 

CGR crowd

The conference was very well attended including individuals from at least 26 states. It drew a wide variety of attendees including state legislators, agency and legislative staff, business owners, citizens and media.

Former U.S. Comptroller David Walker (pictured right) delivered the lunch keynote address to a packed room. He highlighted the looming fiscal crisis caused by government overspending and entitlement programs and record-low levels of savings amongst citizens.

David Walker

Here are links to videos of the presentations:

Panel 1: Budget and tax reform - TVW

  • Jonathan Williams - Director of the Tax & Fiscal Policy Task Force for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) - Topic: Budget and tax transparency
    >Video

Panel 2: Budget accountability/performance and the role of government

  • Larisa Benson - Director of Washington State Government Management Accountability and Performance (GMAP) - Topic: Performance management
    >Video

  • Sheila Weinberg - Founder & CEO of Institute for Truth in Accounting - Topic: Requiring accurate budget information
    >Video

Keynote Lunch Address - TVW 

Additional media coverage of the conference is available here.