Blog

Discover a wealth of insightful materials meticulously crafted to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the latest trends.

The Summer of Healthcare Discontent
Healthcare, PBM, PBMs, Pharmacy Benefits Manager

The Summer of Healthcare Discontent

August 28, 2017

As the end of their summer recess approaches, the Republican-controlled Congress has still not done what it has promised to do since March 2010:  repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, and allow consumer-driven forces to create more competition and choices in order to drive down healthcare costs.  It has been said that Republicans behaved like a dog which had constantly chased after a car and then finally caught it:  They were ill-prepared about what to do after Obamacare was snagged in their metaphorical jaws.

Energy, Environment

Getting Back to Basics at the EPA

August 28, 2017

Over the last decade, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been the poster child for government waste, employee misconduct, and job-killing policies.  This pitiful legacy offers new EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt a golden opportunity to turn around the troubled agency.

Technology, Telecommunications

Building the Digital Bridge

August 28, 2017

In 2014, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) President Tom Schatz and I co-authored a book, Telecom Unplugged: Ushering in a New Digital Era.  Some of the material in the book became out of date with the advent of the Open Internet Order on February 26, 2015, and passage of the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act on February 24, 2016.

General Waste

Confirmation Congestion: 124 Down, More Than 1,000 to Go

August 28, 2017

President Donald Trump has the authority to fill more than 4,000 executive positions, of which 1,212 require Senate confirmation.  According to a joint study by The Washington Post and the Partnership for Public Service, as of August 22, 2017, the Senate has confirmed 124 Trump nominees, with 277 nominations pending.  By comparison, President George W. Bush had 294 confirmations, with 414 pending nominations by August 22, 2001; while President Obama reached 310 confirmations and 433 pending nominations by August 22, 2009.  The confirmation of less than half the number of Bush and Obama nominees has hindered the advancement of President Trump’s agenda.

Security Weaknesses in Pentagon Excess Property Program
Defense

Security Weaknesses in Pentagon Excess Property Program

August 28, 2017

The Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) handles the management of logistical support for the military.  It also runs the 1033 program, which transfers excess Department of Defense (DOD) property to federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) across the United States and its territories.  Since its inception, this program has transferred more than $6 billion worth of DOD property to participating LEAs.

Commerce, Technology, Telecommunications

ECPA Modernization Act of 2017 Introduced

July 28, 2017

The following statement is attributable to Thomas A. Schatz, President, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste on the introduction of the ECPA Modernization Act of 2017 on July 27, 2017: “The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste applauds Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) for introducing the ECPA Modernization Act of 2017, which […]

Healthcare, PBM, PBMs, Pharmacy Benefits Manager

Congress Reacts to Largest Federal Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Action

July 27, 2017

On Thursday, July 13, 2017, the Department of Justice (DoJ) announced in a press release the largest healthcare fraud enforcement action in its history.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D., announced the takedown, in which over 412 individuals were found responsible for $1.3 billion in fraud losses. 

The Dangers of Single-Payer Healthcare
Healthcare, PBM, PBMs, Pharmacy Benefits Manager

The Dangers of Single-Payer Healthcare

July 26, 2017

CAGW’s June 2017 Porker of the Month was Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who earned the “honor” in part due to his outspoken and unwavering support of the single-payer healthcare system.  Sen. Sanders touts the system as the “morally principled” option; in reality, it would create long waiting times, cause a massive increase in taxes, and allow bureaucrats in Washington to make decisions that ought to be made between doctors and patients.  

Technology, Telecommunications

FCC Chairman Takes Action to Fix Lifeline

July 26, 2017

It is mind-boggling when the government continues to squander money on a program that has been on the front line of wasteful spending, and program abuse.  Yet, that is exactly what the Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to do with through Low-Income Support program, which provides subsidies to low-income households for telephone and broadband service.