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Links
related to this story:
National
Partnership for Reinventing Government
NPR
Library
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The
Bottom Line:
How Reinvention Saves You Time and Money
In 1993, NPR made 384 recommendations to address inefficiencies or redundancies in the government. Eighty-eight of these were expected to save about $108 billion over the next five years. In 1995, NPR made another 186 recommendations that would save another $69.4 billion. Nearly 60% of those recommendations have been adopted, saving billions of valuable taxpayer dollars.
But saving money isn't the only benefit from reinvention. When Federal agencies focus on delivering great customer service, Americans get great service, including:
Faster
delivery of first class mail.
Greater
access to government services through expanded telephone and walk-in services.
A faster, friendlier, more flexible Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offering support
for small businesses,
easier-to-understand tax forms and notices, expanded
electronic filing and payment options for taxes -- all
designed to make it simpler to get questions answered,
fill out forms, and pay taxes.
Simpler
applications for Federal student loans--and faster processing
of them, too;
Faster
Customs clearance at airports and border
crossings;
Enhanced Internet postings about recreational activities, recreational
use permits, and reservations for campgrounds on Federal
lands;
The virtual elimination of waiting lines -- that used
to be legendary in length -- at passport agencies throughout the country.
Faster, more comprehensive, and more courteous telephone
service from the Social Security Administration (SSA);
overnight verification of employee Social Security numbers
for businesses; and mailings of personalized
Social Security Statements (that estimate future Social Security benefits) written in plain, easy to understand language, to approximately 125 million workers; and
Faster assistance from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) to disaster victims.
When
Federal agencies reinvent, streamline, and coordinate their activities,
Americans get more protection from crime, health threats,
and safety threats, and more resources to strengthen
communities and families. For example, the Federal government
is currently:
Holding
a series of educational fairs throughout the nation and maintaining
an Internet site to inform communities about grants
and other resources available from various Federal agencies
to after-school programs for school-aged children and
teenagers;
Creating
"Hassle Free Communities" that have one-stop service
centers or mobile vans providing varied Federal, state,
and local government services tailored to community
needs; and
Linking
cities and communities -- through a program known as
the Safe Cities Network -- to share best practices and to improve
the safety and security of our nation's streets.
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