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 […]
Medicare Continues Fiscal Slide: Congress Sidelines Watchdogs
The 2016 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds Report came out today. Bottom line: the Trust Fund faces insolvency in 2028, two years earlier than was projected in last year’s report. But Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Services Acting Administrator Andy […]
A Perfect Picture of Government Efficiency: The Washington D.C. Metro
On June 24, 2010, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced a $5 billion overhaul of the Metrorail and Metrobus system. However, the results of this retrofit have been underwhelming. The problems have persisted to such an extreme degree that on May 6, 2016 WMATA announced a further improvement program, the $60 million SafeTrack, to fix the lines.
Adiós, Puerto Rico – A Story of Shameless Waste and Inefficiency
Plagued by significant population decline, relocation of businesses, and a crushing debt nearing $72 billion, Puerto Rico is in a fiscal crisis. With a $2 billion debt service payment looming on July 1, 2016, the nation is rapidly sliding into an an ever deeper economic depression, driving bipartisan consensus in the House of Representatives rarely […]