Susanne Greschner is the new director of policy and research at the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. She succeeds Peter M. Marino, who is now director of research at RDW Group.
PBN: Having come from Germany, how you find policymaking here compares?
GRESCHNER: There are more similarities than differences [between] policymaking in Germany and the United States. Germany’s multi-party system requires that policymaking is usually based on consensus built on various political points of view. In Rhode Island, consensus-building is also critical in policy making.
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PBN: In your five years at RIPEC, what has been your focus?
GRESCHNER: I have been responsible for applying research and analysis on a broad range of fiscal, public policy and public administration issues affecting Rhode Island, including Medicaid, education policy and school finance. … Based on my research, RIPEC published various Medicaid reports that showed the impact the program has on the state budget, as well as recommendations for organizational reform.
I also was responsible for the “Results: Education in Rhode Island” reports. These annual reports compare Rhode Island to Connecticut and Massachusetts in terms of performance and education spending, how the state’s investment in education changed over time, and what impact school spending has on the local property tax.
In addition, I developed “How Rhode Island’s State and Local Expenditures Compare,” a report that compares the Ocean State’s expenditures to [those of] the other 49 states and the United States average. Working at RIPEC provides me with the opportunity to be involved in various public policy areas, and to work with many different groups to get things done.
PBN: What are your priorities for the coming year?
GRESCHNER: In 2007, I will continue to focus on Rhode Island’s Medicaid system and how [it] can deliver high-quality services in a cost-efficient way. … With various stakeholders, RIPEC will work on developing recommendations for a predictable school-aid formula. Another priority will be a comparative analysis of the estate tax, assessing the competitiveness of Rhode Island’s business taxes, and evaluating how business tax incentives are achieving their intended objectives.
