The commission's charge is similar to that of the Grace Commission, created by President Reagan to examine the operations of the federal government. The Grace Commission's report proved valuable in charting paths to improve accountability and cut costs, though many of its recommendations were never implemented. Its work took two years to complete.

By contrast, the governor's MAP commission has a timetable of three months. But Commission Chairman Ken Wingate, a Columbia lawyer who was a candidate for governor in the GOP primary, is confident that much can be accomplished in that comparatively short time.

Mr. Wingate tells us that the commission will enlist the aid of state employees and the public as it considers ways to make government operate more efficiently and effectively, not to mention improving customer satisfaction. The commission also will review existing reports of the Legislative Audit Council and the performance audits undertaken at the recommendation of former Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler. It will make recommendations that can be variously accomplished by the governor, through executive order; the Budget and Control Board and the Legislature, Mr. Wingate says.

Gov. Sanford says the commission will look at "breaking down the current structure, checking out the moving parts and coming up with a plan for putting the engine back together so it runs smoother and more efficiently. Beyond asking, 'How does this work?', I'm particularly interested in this commission asking, 'Why does it work that way?' and ultimately, 'Is there a better way of getting the job done?' "

The commission's work should bolster the governor's effort to improve accountability by advancing government restructuring during the next legislative session.

The Grace Commission, incidentally, made recommendations that would have saved the federal government $424.4 billion over three years without eliminating essential services. Those results should encourage public participation with the governor's Wingate Commission, as it looks at ways to make state government more serviceable and less costly.