BY FLORENCE GILKESON

Senior Writer

Reaction to Gov. Beverly Perdue's massive proposed restructuring of state government has been overwhelmingly positive from members of both political parties.

Perdue, a Democrat, outlined the sweeping changes last Thursday in an address to a Chamber of Commerce function in Pinehurst. She said the changes will save millions of dollars and make government more efficient.

"The governor was courageous and honest and presented a good plan," said state Sen. Harris Blake, a Pinehurst Republican.

State Rep. Jamie Boles, also a Republican, called it one of the best speeches Perdue has made. His district includes most of Moore County.

"It should have been done 10 or 20 years ago," said state Rep. Doug Yongue, a Laurinburg Democrat, who attended the event.

Yongue, who represents District 46, lost his bid for re-election in November. He has served in the state House since 1994 and with three different governors. At one time, his district included one precinct from Moore County.

"I think her plan is wonderful, and I think we'll find that the next legislature will be comfortable with these changes," Blake said.

Republicans will control both chambers of the 2011 session of the N.C. General Assembly for the first time in more than 100 years. It will be up to a Republican legislature to enact the proposals laid out by Perdue.

"I think we can do it," Blake said. "We do our best when we have to do something. It will take a little negotiating."

Blake added that the reaction had also been good from all Republicans he has talked to since Perdue's address. He said he was especially pleased with her pledge to protect education as her highest priority.

"She did a great job of laying out the parameters of how to get our government working again," Blake said.

Although Boles was similarly impressed with the address, he was reluctant to say that Perdue's plan is doable in the immediate future. He said he wants to wait and see what the governor's budget proposal actually contains before offering an opinion on full passage.

"This is a good start," Boles said. "Like she said, the devil is in the details, and we haven't seen the details yet."

Boles then quipped that "it's like she woke up on Nov. 3 and became a Republican." He said the governor has received the message from the people of North Carolina and has acknowledged the need to make vigorous changes in the way government operates.

"I think the only people who haven't gotten the message are the people in Washington," Boles said.

Bole added that he was happy to hear the governor's pro-business approach.

"It was one of the best, most meaningful addresses she has made, and it was long overdue," Yongue said. "It is time to save money."

Yongue said the state needs to carry out a major restructuring on a regular basis, perhaps every 10 or more years, to review agency functions and cut out functions no longer needed.

Perdue spoke to a full house composed of a number of visitors from neighboring counties as well as local business leaders and elected officials.

In her address, Perdue proposed a sweeping overhaul of the state bureaucracy by reducing the number of government agencies from 14 to eight and reviewing the operations of 150 boards and commissions. She wants to consolidate several state departments, eliminate some "back office functions," privatize some operations and freeze new hiring of state employees, with the exception of people working in critical fields.

Using her executive authority, Perdue issued the hiring freeze later Thursday afternoon. However, it will take legislative action to carry out many of the changes she proposed.

Perdue estimated that the restructuring of state government would save millions of dollars, perhaps even hundreds of millions of dollars. However, it was not clear whether such savings, if implemented, will affect the $3.7 billion revenue shortfall expected in the new budget year.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.