In a Feb. 6th Newsweek report by Martha McHardy cited below, the progress made in the 11 States that are initiating DOGE-like programs to cut waste and State government inefficiencies, is reviewed. Since January I have been making a siren call for such a program in Idaho. The problems with the LUMA accounting and reconciling software platform’s deployment and the reluctance of the various Idaho government agencies to use the system has created an auditing void throughout all of Idaho government. I have applauded the efforts of Idaho Speaker of The House Mike Moyle’s initiative for an intra-State Government audit of LUMA, but in the majority of the 11 States that are initiating DOGE-like legislation, it is recognized that external audits are the most efficacious means of ferreting out the complex processes that happen between the time monies are allocated or appropriated by legislators, to the time the money or product is delivered to the end user.
The systems used by Elon Musk’s DOGE squad are exactly the same processes that auditors and, in a few cases, forensic auditors have been using when reviewing financial transactions of publicly traded organizations. The forensic algorithms of yesteryear are being replaced by modern AI systems that are like COPILOT on steroids—many times deploying multiple systems. If the State of Idaho takes 3 years to deploy LUMA, then think how far behind they are from the private sector accountants.
My biggest differences with our current Governor Brad Little, are not with most of his policies, but with his allegiance to an antiquated process of governance, and on his reliance for political advice on a political class of corporate lobbyists who have benefited the most from the sloppy accounting and the lack of responsible stewardship within government Departments and agencies. Can we all say IACI, IMA/IHA, IEA?
We don’t have to set up a complete review of all of State government agencies like Elon Musk is doing for our Federal agencies. How about simple outside forensic audits of LUMA, DHW, THE IDAHOAHEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE, and MEDICAID?
One must wonder why our legislators and those in the executive branch don’t insist on outside audits. Are they afraid of what will be found, or do they already know and they are just stonewalling the process of accountability? Large bureaucratic institutions inside and outside of government thrive on complexity. Have you ever tried to figure out your itemized hospital bill? In fact, you have to ask for it several times before you can even see it. Complex financial transactions are the friend of malfeasance and fraud. Citizens shouldn’t have to “ask several times” to see the bills of their own Idaho government.
WE THE PEOPLE are simply asking to see if the fruits of our labor—the taxes we pay, are truly being used to take care of those who the government programs were originally designed to take care of—or are they being used to pad the paychecks of large hospital administrators and CEOs of insurance companies?
We need external independent outside audits of those government agencies that are costing taxpayers large sums of money.
https://www.newsweek.com/us-states-doge-committees-trump-2036632
