Well, I have a solution for all this. We need to take a number of federal agencies and move them somewhere else. To Cleveland or Omaha or wherever, just somewhere outside of Washington.
Now, some agencies need to be in DC because they have to be near the White House or Capitol Hill. So DOJ, State and other major agencies should stay. But does the IRS really need to be there? Tax collection would seem to be something that could be done anywhere. And maybe the USDA should be somewhere close to where farmers actually operate. There are a number of agencies that should be able to move.
I understand that the leaders of all agencies probably have to appear before Congress fairly often. A couple of buildings could be set aside for executive offices. Each agency or department that relocates could have an office in DC with a few senior employees.
This plan would have large costs up front, due to the need to relocate equipment, records, and people. But in the long term, I think it would save money. The government would be able to pay lower cost-of-living adjustments to employees living in lower-cost locales. An exodus of employees from DC would lower the cost of living there, as well. Many government employees also get mass-transit benefits; the number of people receiving this money would be reduced. Maybe they could cancel the planned Metro expansion to Dulles airport and save $3 billion.
Moving these agencies would provide a boost to the cities that receive them. A new, stable employer would increase local tax revenues. Unfortunately, Congress would get involved in deciding what agencies move where, so decisions would be made based on where senior Congressmen live, not on more relevant criteria. But that would be better than doing nothing, I think.
I think this move would also encourage better people to run for Congress. Congressmen have to maintain residences back home and in DC, and this is very difficult unless you are rich. This is only one reason that people choose to avoid politics (others are media scrutiny and the need to raise money), but it might help some. Also, more good people might come work for the government if housing cost less and commutes were shorter.
This plan obviously will not be carried out, but I'd just like to put it out there.
That's a great idea. After all, there are a few countries (not many, but a few) that have multiple capitals, separating for instance their legislative and judicial capitals, so it would be a much smaller deal so have federal agencies somewhere else. It would also be good for the cities to which the agencies relocated. Good call, Craig.
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