Two former state employees got the opportunity to be “king for a day” Tuesday and recommend ways to cut state government expenses.'

One suggestion: Limit the number of state dollars flowing to local governments.

“We need a Lap Band and we need to start amputation,” C.B. Forgotston, a former attorney for the House Appropriations Committee, told state officials.

Lap Band is a type of weight loss surgery.

Another longtime state worker, former Legislative Fiscal Officer Johnny Rombach, said Louisiana seems to spend money unwisely. Rombach said the state does not reap enough of a return for the amount of money spent on services such as higher education and health care.

The comments arose as the Commission on Streamlining Government splintered into smaller groups to study various aspects of state government.

The commission — formed with backing by Gov. Bobby Jindal — is charged with reviewing the operations of state government and finding ways to cut costs. The work must be done quickly. The commission must submit streamlining recommendations to the governor and other state officials by the end of the year. The commission’s chairman, state Sen. Jack Donahue, said budget cuts will have to be made because of a drop in state revenue.

Donahue, R-Mandeville, said the goal is to make cuts that also benefit the state.

Christel Slaughter, a partner at SSA Consultants in Baton Rouge, offered to volunteer her services as the commission’s facilitator.

Previously, Slaughter’s role was unclear with Donahue speculating that the House and the Senate might pay her. Slaughter and Donahue’s wife have ties to Blueprint Louisiana, an issue-oriented group of business and community leaders.

Slaughter announced Tuesday that she would work without charge.

Donahue characterized it as a “generous offer.”

Maurice McTigue, vice president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., also wants to work with the commission. State Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, asked McTigue if recent changes to the state’s ethics laws are helping improve Louisiana’s image.

McTigue said the changes helped the state’s reputation.
“I think you can accept you’ve made progress in the minds of the rest of the United States,” he told Michot.

Later in the day, the commission broke into smaller groups to study efficiency, the state workforce and duplication.

At one meeting, state Treasurer John Kennedy told Forgotston and Rombach to be kings for a day and suggest ways to reduce the size of state government.
Forgotston said state government needs to go back to basics. One way to do that, he said, is to determine what services the state is mandated to deliver.
He said the state budget is growing even though the economy is stagnant.
“The real goal ought to be to make government affordable to the people,” Forgotston said.

James Napper II, executive counsel to the state treasury, questioned what the state is funding that goes beyond the basics.

Forgotston said the state provides funding for local governments on an increasing basis.