Click the play button on the video window to the see the storyWith a tough economy and a budget battle that's dragged on, there's a new panel at the Arizona State Capitol tasked with getting rid of government waste.
State Senator Thayer Verschoor (R-District 22) heads the newly formed Arizona Budget Commission.
"Quite frankly, it's not a new idea," Verschoor said. "We want to make sure that we're not just making arbitrary reductions in government, but that we're being smart about it."
Agencies on Verschoor's radar include the Department of Economic Security, K-12 education, and the Department of Health Services.
"We're going to look at how we can be the most efficient with taxpayer dollars," Verschoor said.
Verschoor said his commission could recommend significant restructuring of state government, possibly combining agencies, like Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
"I think every agency is going to have to answer the question why do you exist," Verschoor said. "These are trying times and I think you have to be a little bit bold in times like these."
State Senate Democrats did not provide a comment on the commission.
Verschoor plans to bring in people from the private sector as well as former agency staff to help find inefficiencies in government.
The commission will remain in place at least through the end of 2010.
