Washington, D.C. – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today applauded the release of the November 17 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report suggesting areas in need of oversight by the next Congress.  The GAO report breaks down the recommendations into near-term oversight, programs and policies in need of reform, and governance issues to ensure an efficient government in the 21^st century.

“Many of the report’s recommendations have been offered in the past, and the lack of action on those proposals makes it imperative for the new Congress to move quickly to engage in ‘constructive oversight,’ as stated by Comptroller General David Walker,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “That means holding government agencies and programs accountable for the most effective use of the taxpayers’ money, while precluding the politicization of the hearing process.” 

The near-term oversight recommendations include closing the tax gap, improving acquisition and contracting, and enhancing computer security.  Fundamental reforms are proposed for the tax code, Medicare, Medicaid, education, and farm programs.  The governance issues, which are intended to ensure an “economical, effective, ethical, and equitable” government, include budget controls, reviewing the effectiveness of past management reforms and the federal audit community, and modernizing the organizational and human capital models for the government.

The GAO report was welcomed by incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and incoming Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).  Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has promised investigations of Medicare and government contracts in Iraq.  However, Democrats have not been receptive to several GAO reforms, especially slowing the growth of entitlement programs.  

Many of the management reform recommendations have been supported by CAGW for its 22 years; some go back to the Grace Commission, which first proposed the establishment of chief financial officers in federal departments and agencies.  That is one of the past management reforms that GAO suggested for review.  In addition, CAGW has supported the use of private tax collectors to help close the $290 billion net tax gap.  The Internal Revenue Service has begun to utilize private companies, but there have been objections to that activity by federal employee unions and some members of Congress. 

Schatz continued: “The federal government cannot afford to continue doing its business as it has in the past.  Every program must be scrutinized to ensure the efficient use of tax dollars.  Better management should be a nonpartisan issue; unfortunately, it has often taken a back seat to the use of congressional committees to pursue political agendas, and reform efforts have been ignored in favor of pork-barrel spending and other wasteful practices.  In addition, agency budgets have not been based on achieving results.  If the new Democratic majority is serious about running ‘the most ethical Congress in history,’ as Rep. Pelosi has said, it starts with sincere and serious oversight, review, and accountability for the taxpayers’ money.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.