Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that he has signed executive orders eliminating 13 state boards and 227 positions.

 "The governor will ask the Legislature to eliminate 18 additional boards and 246 positions that were created by statute," his staff announced.

(Click here to check out the list.)

"The governor’s announcement followed recommendations by Commissioner of Administration Kelvin Simmons, whose department reviewed boards and commissions across state government to root out waste, inefficiency and redundancy and save taxpayers money."

And on this issue, Nixon appears to have bipartisan support.

In the Senate, the legislation to do away with the 18 boards will be sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City. In the House, the co-sponsors are Reps. Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, and J.C. Kuessner, D-Eminence.

In a statement, Nixon said, "Missouri government must continue to tighten its belt, just as families all across the Show-Me State are doing. Eliminating ineffective or redundant state boards will give Missourians a government that’s more efficient, accountable and responsive. Many state boards do excellent work and will continue to do so, but we must continue to root out waste, inefficiency and redundancy wherever they exist in government.”

Some of the work done by the soon-to-be defunct boards will be shifted to some surviving boards and commissions, the governor said. According to his office's statement, "Some boards have been dormant for some time or have never met. For example, the Thomas Hart Benton Homestead Memorial Commission has not met since 1991."

The affected boards include, for example, the Governor's Council on AIDS, and the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging.  According to the governor's office, the duties and focus of both groups can be assumed by the HIV/STD Prevention Community Planning Group and the State Board of Senior Services.