The Honorable Maurice McTigue joined the Mercatus Center in 1997 as a distinguished visiting scholar following an illustrious career as a New Zealand Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Ambassador. In 1991, Mr. McTigue accepted the positions of Minister of State Owned Enterprises, Minister of Railways, and Minister of Works and Development, and assumed Chairmanship of the Cabinet's powerful Expenditure Control Committee.  In each ministry, he applied results-based criteria to help clarify the organization's mission, analyze performance, and prioritize activities accordingly. In 1993, Mr. McTigue was appointed Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration, continuing the application of results-based principles to employment law, occupational safety and health regulations, and immigration.  In April 1994, he moved to Canada as New Zealand’s Ambassador.

As director of the Government Accountability Project at Mercatus, Mr. McTigue is sharing the lessons of his practical experience with policy makers in the United States.  He works with officials in the Administration, members of Congress, officials from over 23 federal agencies and state governments on applying the principles of transparency and accountability in the public sector.

Today he joins host Jim Musser to discuss the need for making state goverments cost effective, while still providing citizens with needed services. Streamlining commissions provide a uniqe way for legislators to excercise oversight and restraint, without compromising state governments.