Ridenbaugh Press/Northwest

There’s periodic talk of this, of getting rid of any number of state boards and commissions. It gets mentioned a lot more than it happens.

It’s begun to happen in Washington state, where Governor Chris Gregoire has now ordered an end to 17 state boards and commissions. She also asked for legislation to end 78 more (those are set up by state law).

The 17 out now: Aviation Advisory Committee, Cedar Creek Corrections Center Community Advisory Committee, Clallam Bay Corrections Center Community Advisory Committee, Connell Citizens Advisory Committee, Corrections Center for Women Community Advisory Committee, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Statewide Advisory Committee, Marysville Community Citizens Violation Board, McNeil Island Correction Center Community Advisory Committee, Olympic Corrections Center Community Advisory Committee, Peninsula Work Release Community Advisory Board, Penitentiary Community Advisory Committee, Public Health Improvement Plan Steering Committee, Religious Advisory Board, Special Commitment Center Advisory Board, Stafford Creek Liaison Committee, State Capacity for Disabilities Prevention Projects Consultants, State Genetics Advisory Committee.

Many of them, as you see, local or regional – not really statewide. And some of the others – you do wonder what some do.

But the larger question here: How many state boards and commissions are there overall? What’s the total number (as in, 95 panels out of how many)? That number might be more stunning than the number for elimination.