Waste Commission Still Crucial to Root Out

Massive Federal Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Washington, D.C. – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today commended President G. W. Bush for creating the President’s Management Council. 

“The implementation of government reform is a long-standing and essential element of President Bush’s agenda to bring more accountability and common sense to Washington, DC,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “The formal, internal structure created by his July 11 executive memorandum will enable agencies and the public to improve government’s stewardship of tax dollars.”

CAGW also expressed relief that former Vice President Al Gore’s National Performance Review was formally put out of business by the Bush Administration, and replaced with a realistic approach to government reform.

“The president’s executive memorandum reflects Bush’s much needed, businesslike approach to running the federal government,” Schatz added.  “Every successful organization has a chief operating officer to assist the CEO — in this instance the agency secretary or administrator — by taking responsibility for organization-wide management.  The new federal chief operating officers will oversee vital efforts such as integrating performance and budgeting.  CAGW is ready to help the Bush Administration identify problem areas of the waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.” 

Last year, CAGW’s Prime Cuts documented $1.2 trillion in government waste over five years, and its Congressional Pig Book identified $18.5 billion in pork-barrel projects.

While CAGW recognizes the need for a new internal management scheme that incorporates best practices learned from corporations and state and local governments, Schatz continued to call for a new government waste commission. 

“To initiate a new era of good government and bipartisanship, CAGW calls on the White House to appoint a Government Waste Commission similar to the Grace Commission of the 1980s and the Military Base Closing Commission of the 1990s,” Schatz added.  “Such a panel would audit the government and recommend ways to improve the delivery of services in Washington and save taxpayers billions of dollars annually.” 

CAGW is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government.