Return to Article: Congress urged to set clear performance standards

By Amelia Gruber agruber@govexec.com November 17, 2003
  • 2206

    The think tank professor isn't thinking! Congress should not set goals and priorities because they are not capable of doing so reliably. Congress does set broad priorities by the appropriation of money for specific agencies and activities.

    Congress has no idea of an agencies capabilities and what may be accomplished first, second etc. Likewise, Congress has no idea of the things that must be done before something else (that may be a higher priority) must be done.

    Let's keep Congress as Congress and leave the executive branch to execute the programs based on their decisions. A bunch of elected lawyers on the Hill have no idea what most of the programs are or what should be accomplished. The professor should look to the executives to provide the priorities and a timetable for achievement of specific actions - not Congress.

    Professor, get out of the think tank and into the do tank! This kind of crap makes working for the government very unrewarding. Ask the executive branch for this type of input - not some think tank fellow.

    GovExec.com reader Posted November 19, 2003 7:27 AM
  • 2201

    How about Congress setting their own performance standards. Better yet, since there are already deadlines in place for the budget, stick with them and get the job done.

    GovExec.com reader Posted November 18, 2003 2:25 PM

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Congress urged to set clear performance standards
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