State and local governments routinely approve plans to force taxpayers to subsidize professional sports arenas across the country. In a report released on December 20, 2013, Judith Grant Long, a professor of urban planning at Harvard University, found that taxpayers had doled out $12 billion to fund 51 major sports stadiums between 2001 and 2010, raising many questions about why taxpayers foot the bill for these facilities.
Weapons of Mass Waste
The Department of Defense (DOD) maintains approximately $70 billion worth of conventional ammunition in case of unexpected contingencies. From this reserve, the DOD routinely removes ammunition that it deems excessive, damaged, unusable, or otherwise obsolete. This surplus is transferred to various Army facilities for storage, or eventual destruction. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, the DOD transferred 44 million items, including bullets, detonation cords, fuses, and grenades. The stockpile awaiting destruction is valued at $16 billion.
Some Are More Equal Than Others
More than a year ago, on June 25, 2015, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste along with nine other taxpayer advocacy groups and individuals, filed a complaint with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. We requested an investigation into whether Senators and/or their staff may have committed fraud and broke several laws when they […]
Second Hand Smoke
The California Assembly proposed Senate Bill 1400, introduced by Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), which would have limited the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to specified “tobacco stores,” that prohibit customers under the age of 21 and generate more than 60 percent of their annual revenue from tobacco. Sen. Wieckowski has said that the […]
What’s Longer: TSA Lines or TSA Employee Retention?
This month, CAGW named Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson June’s Porker of the Month. The decision was a no-brainer, as he is the man behind the “nightmarish” Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines across the country. While the agency claims things are getting better, there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
New Regulations for the Unaffordable Care Act
Since it was signed into law on March 23, 2010, the $1.2 trillion Affordable Care Act (ACA) has proven unaffordable for a large percentage of Americans. To escape the high costs, many individuals have sought relief in the form of short-term coverage plans.
Veterans Affairs IT System Needs Major Repairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a systemic problem with information technology (IT) management, according to a June 22, 2016 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The report follows up on recommendations made by GAO following the agency’s February, 2015 designation of the IT system as a high-risk area. It highlights the ongoing need for VA to overhaul its IT to better ensure the quality and safety of veterans’ healthcare. Despite billions of dollars being spent over the past several years on managing and modernizing IT systems, including $3.9 billion in fiscal year 2015, major problems remain unresolved.
Catfish Program Removal Gains Support of Committee on Energy and Commerce
On June 22, 2016, CCAGW and a coalition of taxpayer watchdogs sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives urging a vote on S. J. Res. 28. S. J. Res. 28, sponsored by Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.), would nullify the USDA’s wasteful and duplicative catfish inspection program. The Senate passed the resolution on May 25, […]
Home healthcare is one of the most corrupt segments of Medicare fraud
Home healthcare is one of the most corrupt segments of Medicare fraud. Governmentwide, the FY 2015 improper payment number is a staggering $137 billion annually, up from $xxx billion in FY 2014. Medicare in general is riddled with improper payments, and fraud is a sub-section of that phenomenon. $43 billion in losses last year alone […]
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Home healthcare is one of the most corrupt segments of Medicare fraud. Governmentwide, the FY 2015 improper payment number is a staggering $137 billion annually, up from $xxx billion in FY 2014. Medicare in general is riddled with improper payments, and fraud is a sub-section of that phenomenon. $43 billion in losses last year alone […]