The chattering political class, with scant exception, prognosticated that Donald J. Trump had only the narrowest of opportunities to win the White House in the 2016 general election. Indeed, many such solons suggested that his bombastic style, in addition to losing his own race, might also cost the Republicans control of the Senate (all but a foregone conclusion, given that the GOP was in a much more vulnerable position, defending 24 of the 34 seats up for election).
Lame-Duck Session, 114th Congress: The Victors, the Vanquished, and the Un-Inaugurated
For anyone unfamiliar with the patois of politics, the term “lame duck” may seem like a bit of an odd duck, rhetorically speaking. As defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the more common understanding of this phrase is “an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the […]
Unauthorized Spending, Sacred Cows, and the Need for Training Wheels
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has long advocated for reforms to the way that Congress does business, focused on senators and representatives who turn blind eyes to ever-increasing spending. One such reform, introduced on March 14, 2016 by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) is H.R. 4730, the Unauthorized Spending Accountability (USA) Act.
A Penny, a Nickel, and a Dollar Walk Into a Bar…
The dire fiscal circumstances facing the country are enough to drive Americans to drink. But when it comes to the billions of dollars that could be saved for taxpayers, currency modernization represents a much-needed tonic, as well as a partial cure for the spending-like-drunken-sailors hangover that seriously threatens the country’s well-being.
Social Impact Partnerships: No Social Solyndras
Too often, Congress seems to blindly throw money at the problem du jour and then, without any measure of effectiveness, consider its work to be complete. This tired (yet persistent) approach may help to explain why federal spending has metastasized unabated, while many social ills remain unsolved.
Perks for Past Presidents Potentially Pruned
In a little-heralded move that was lost in the Friday afternoon news dump where important information typically goes to die in Washington, D.C., something verging on the miraculous occurred in the nation’s capital.
Hensarling: “Economic Growth for All, and Bank Bailouts for None”
On June 7, 2016, with the mantra “Economic Growth for All, and Bank Bailouts for None,” House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) unveiled the key principles of his proposal to replace the Dodd-Frank Act with “real reforms that work,” in a speech to the Economic Club of New York.
Senate Hearing on TSA Operations: Frustrated Travelers and Threats to Aviation
This morning, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs held a hearing entitled, “Frustrated Travelers: Rethinking TSA Operations to Improve Passenger Screening and Address Threats to Aviation.” The witnesses included: The Honorable Peter V. Neffenger, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) The Honorable John Roth, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Jennifer Grover, […]
Hensarling’s CHOICE: “Creating Hope and Opportunity for Investors, Consumers and Entrepreneurs”
With his newest catch-phrase, “Economic Growth for All, and Bank Bailouts for None,” House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) unveiled the key principles underpinning his proposal to replace the Dodd-Frank Act with “real reforms that work,” in a speech earlier today to the Economic Club of New York. The following represent the key […]
In Jeopardy: Shuster’s Loftier Vision for Air Traffic Control Modernization
In today’s early edition of “Morning Consult,” an online digest of relevant public policy activities in the nation’s capital, the journal highlighted the disparities between the Senate and House versions of legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In April, the Senate passed their version overwhelmingly (95-3), while the House bill (approved by the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee) has not made it to the floor yet.