On the October 2nd edition of Fox News Channel’s Special Report, columnist Charles Krauthammer decried the Democrats’ disingenuous insistence on a “clean CR,” implying that such an approach is actually a ratification of failure. On the one hand, it would underscore the fact that both chambers of Congress had failed in one of their most […]
We Aren’t Greece…Yet
There was a great article by Holman Jenkins in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday entitled: “Behind the Noise, Entitlement Reform.” My summary of his piece is: Perhaps if some Greek politicians had put their foot down 10 years ago to halt their country’s overspending and demanded reform of its nanny state, maybe their country […]
CAGW Releases October WasteWatcher
For Immediate Release Contact: Leslie K. Paige 202-467-5334 October 3, 2013 Alexandra Booze 202-467-5318 Sequestration is Better than Sliced Bread By Tom Schatz WasteWatcher, October 2013 It is time for official Washington to admit that sequestration is the best thing that has happened for taxpayers since Gramm-Rudman in the mid-1980s. Domestic discretionary spending is being reduced […]
Sequestration is Better than Sliced Bread
It is time for official Washington to admit that sequestration is the best thing that has happened for taxpayers since Gramm-Rudman in the mid-1980s. Domestic discretionary spending is being reduced and will continue to be cut as long as Congress sticks to the sequestration limits.
Legislation Puts Recovery Auditing, and Taxpayers, at Risk
Government waste, fraud, and abuse are a scourge on American taxpayers and a multi-billion dollar insult to the federal budget, but preventing improper payments, particularly in Medicare, is now running into roadblocks despite being a rare example of success. Medicare providers, particularly hospitals, which have for years received billions in improper overpayments, now fully appreciate that new auditing and recovery techniques dramatically inhibit the flow of those overpayments. More importantly, officials managing an actuarially and fiscally compromised Medicare program now have the ability, motivation, and authority to demand that providers repay those funds.
Court Begins Hearing on Net Neutrality
The notion of equality on the Internet may sound reasonable, but net neutrality, as defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is instead an attack on private-sector business models. Proponents of net neutrality want the online world to be forced “open” at the expense of successful Internet providers, but fail to recognize the many tradeoffs to “openness,” such as increased spam, fewer privacy controls, slower service, and, perhaps most importantly, decreased incentives for investment and innovation.
Nancy’s Cupboard May be Bare, But There are Certainly Bats in Her Belfry
On Sunday, September 25, when asked by host Candy Crowley about why President Obama and House and Senate Democrats are so utterly opposed to negotiating over the debt ceiling by exploring additional deficit reduction and spending cuts (as almost every previous president has), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) declared on CNN’s Sunday show State of the Union that “the cupboard is bare…there’s no more cuts to make.”
An Early Christmas in Washington
Fiscal year (FY) 2013 just ended and federal agencies enjoyed a shopping spree.
This spending binge occurred because at the end of every fiscal year agencies are incentivized to spend the remaining money in their budgets in order to justify a similar or increased budget for the following year. This phenomenon, known as “spend it or lose it,” leads not only to wasteful spending, but to poor investments and awful management at the federal level.
Obamacare Opening Day – Can You Say Fiasco?
I tried to get information on Obamacare yesterday by logging onto www.healthcare.gov. The only thing I accomplished was being transferred to my state exchange. The state website is still experiencing difficulties today so I haven’t been able to find out if the current plan I have (which I pay for out-of-pocket) is more expensive than what […]
Another Bailout
While the focus of the press and Washington has been on passing a continuing resolution and a government shutdown, the White House pulled the usual Washington D.C. public affairs stunt when you don’t wont bad or controversial news to be discussed broadly. It releases the news on a Friday afternoon. According to several news reports, last […]