Deeds proposes audits for all state agencies

Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds yesterday proposed regular audits of every state agency—and requiring those agencies to start from zero dollars in their budgets as part of an ambitious plan to make Virginia’s government cheaper, leaner and more efficient.

The state senator from Bath County also would require all school divisions in the commonwealth to participate in a performance review program, consolidate the purchases of drugs by state government and require the head of the troubled Virginia Information Technology Agency to report directly to the governor.

Deeds unveiled the proposals just miles from his home in Bath, as he ended his weeklong “Deeds Country” RV tour of rural, recession-besieged Southside and Southwest Virginia.