The Piedmont Area Republican Women Federated (PARW) recently held an educational speakers luncheon featuring Dr. Lawrence McQuillan, a senior fellow and director of the Center on Entrepreneurial Innovation at the Independent Institute. McQuillan is the creator of the California Golden Fleece Awards, which highlight a state or local spending program or regulation that McQuillan says “fleeces” California taxpayers, consumers or businesses. Corki Recht, PARW’s first vice president, introduced McQuillan to the audience.
“Many of us have read Dr. McQuillan’s articles in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and local papers or viewed his online blogs and videos,” said Recht. “We are fortunate to have someone like Dr. McQuillan, who is dedicated not only to enlightening us about government waste and mismanagement but also to providing solutions.”
McQuillan started the California Golden Fleece Awards three years ago.
“The goal of the program is to expose government waste, fraud and abuse, to increase transparency, and to give the public information they need to hold our government accountable,” stated McQuillan. “There are three specific criteria for the award: one — a violation of common-sense principles of responsibility; two — waste or mismanagement as understood by people of varying political philosophies; and three — thorough and accurate documentation.”
McQuillan then described his seven California Golden Fleece Awards winners since 2016:
- spring 2016 — California’s High-Speed Rail Authority;
- summer 2016 — the California Department of Transportation;
- spring 2017 — Cal Fire;
- fall 2017 — the California Department of Water Resources;
- summer 2018 — Proposition 47;
- fall 2018 — lawmakers and government workers who commit harassment; and
- winter 2019 — the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
McQuillan is encouraged by the changes in leadership and implementation of some of his recommendations in the above agencies.
“We need everyone to get involved, to get more media exposure about these abuses and to communicate with our local and state officials. If you know of any candidates for the California Golden Fleece Awards, there’s a link on the Independent Institute’s website (independent.org).”
