Mark Hatfield: “recently the State of Oregon and several federal agencies signed a unique memorandum of understanding to create a new…”

“recently the State of Oregon and several federal agencies signed a unique memorandum of understanding to create a new partnership designed to deliver government services in a better and more efficient manner. When this revolutionary partnership, called the Oregon Option, is fully implemented, Federal grants or transfers to State and local governments in Oregon will be based on results rather than compliance with regulatory procedures. Because I believe that this project has the potential to vastly improve the delivery of government services in my state and may well prove to be a national model for future partnerships between state and federal agencies, I am today introducing a sense of the Senate resolution highlighting the Federal Government's partnership in this effort. As we all know, a great deal of time and energy is spent by our local and State agencies trying to comply with regulations set forth by all levels of government. Billions of dollars are spent on compliance rather than on providing better services to improve people's lives. The new partnership set forth in the Oregon Option will dramatically streamline and coordinate Federal, State and local regulations so that local and State governments can respond to specific problems flexibly. This flexibility will be exchanged for a transformed measurement of accountability--progress towards meeting performance goals.”