FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2010
Contact: Sarah Howe
202-775-9111
PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE APPLAUDS SENATE FOR PASSAGE OF BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION
Urges Swift Passage as Bill Moves on to House
WASHINGTON –Partnership for Public Service President and CEO Max Stier released the following statement applauding Sens. Ted Kaufman (D-DE), George Voinovich (R-OH), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) for leading the passage of the Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010 (S. 3196).
“The United States Senate took a huge step today toward improving the presidential transition for future administrations. Given the complexity and urgency of issues facing an incoming administration in a post-9/11 world, we need our president and his senior leadership to be ready to govern on day one. An effective transition relies on advance preparation and skillful execution, not hope and luck.
All parties, including the White House, federal agencies, campaigns and Congress, should prepare early for the safe, orderly and peaceful transfer of power. An appropriate allocation of resources must be available to agencies and candidates, which is enabled by this bipartisan bill.
We strongly urge the House to swiftly follow the Senate’s lead and pass S. 3196 before the end of the year. The time to act is now.”
The Partnership called on Congress and the White House to make major fixes to the presidential transition process in its Ready to Govern: Improving the Presidential Transition report released in January 2010, and available at www.ourpublicservice.org. Report recommendations include starting the transition process earlier, making it more transparent so there is no longer a stigma on preparing, and reducing the number of Senate-confirmed politically appointed positions. The report also recommends that Congress and the White House agree on a calendar of appointments so 500 key officials are confirmed at the six month mark, rather than the current norm of over a year.
The Partnership for Public Service works to revitalize the federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works. Visit www.ourpublicservice.org for more information.
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The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to revitalize our federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.
