Missouri senators next week will continue an effort begun last year to "reboot" state government.
And Missouri residents again are being urged to submit their own ideas for streamlining state government operations.
"We must consider every possible way to make government smaller and more efficient - whether that is through more control, alterations or deletions," new Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said during his opening day speech Wednesday. "Rebooting Government is not a short-term program.
"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly examine and reshape every aspect of state government that could set Missouri on a sustainable, long-term path."
Former Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R- St. Joseph, is now gone from the Legislature because of term limits, but he proposed the "rebooting" concept last year.
Using computer technology terms, the process was called "Rebooting Government" to suggest state operations needed a "restart" in the same way a computer must be turned off, then restarted when it locks up.
And those changes, Shields said, could be done through new "controls," "alternatives" to existing programs or "deleting existing programs."
Lawmakers also asked for the public's input last year, resulting in more than 3,000 submissions.
Mayer said Wednesday: "Last year, we ... had several early successes saving taxpayers millions of dollars - but we can and will do more."
Again this year, Mayer noted, Missourians can submit their suggestions through the state Senate's website, www.senate.mo.gov.
Clicking on the "Reboot Government" logo, inside the main box on the Senate's home page, connects to a separate Web page, www.senate.mo.gov/RebootMO/RebootMOMain.html.
That connection allows people to submit their ideas or to view last year's recommendations.
In his speech Wednesday, Mayer said: "Starting next week, senators will meet in working groups to consider your ideas and will report final recommendations to the entire Senate on Jan. 19th. Now is the time to be heard - please submit your idea today."