Donate Today

Maurice P. McTigue

Urban Economics
  • Former Vice President, Outreach

The Honorable Maurice McTigue, QSO, was Vice President for Outreach at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

McTigue has testified on Capitol Hill and published articles in many major media outlets, including the New York Times, the Atlantic, Bloomberg Businessweek, US News & World Report, and the Chicago Tribune.

McTigue advised the Office of Management and Budget and most federal agencies in the Clinton and Bush administrations on issues of accountability and transparency and has consulted with legislators and governors in more than 30 states. McTigue was a special advisor to Louisiana’s Commission on Streamlining Government and was named to Virginia governor Bob McDonnell’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring.

A former cabinet minister and member of parliament in his native New Zealand, McTigue was one of the architects of the “New Zealand miracle,” which dramatically reformed the country’s government and economy by implementing market-driven, progrowth policies. He later became New Zealand’s ambassador to Canada and received the prestigious Queen’s Service Order in recognition of his public service from Queen Elizabeth II.

Publications & Appearances

Can Budget Process Reforms Produce Better Budget Outcomes?

Today I will comment on “wasteful and duplicative spending,” and discuss how better, more transparent budget processes are the first step, but not the solution, to controlling such spending. I would like to make three main points. First, changing the focus to the desired outcomes in the budget process is essential to controlling duplicative spending. Second, comparing the results of all activities that impact the same outcome is critical in allocating resources to the most effective activities and maximizing outcome achievement. And third, budget procedures matter when it comes to controlling spending, based on evidence from state governments and overseas.

A Process for Examining the Budget of an Agency within a Federal Department

This paper describes a series of questions and procedures to be followed by congressional staff in analyzing and preparing for a hearing on the budget of an agency. The items outlined in this paper are general principles and can be used to examine most agency budgets. For purposes of illustration, however, the paper uses the FDA, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as an example.