The new Senate Inter-Governmental Operations Committee chaired by Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) conducted its first public hearing on the topic of the strategies and challenges in streamlining state government. The committee members heard testimony from the Mercatus Center, the Commonwealth Foundation, the Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center, AFSCME Council 13, the State Civil Service Commission and David Black who offered his perspective on the 1996 merger of the Departments of Community Affairs and Commerce. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.