The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced on November 15, 2012 that in fiscal year (FY) 2012, which ended on September 30, the agency lost a record $15.9 billion. In June, 2012 at a PostalVision 2020 conference in Washington, Postmaster General (PMG) Patrick Donahoe flatly stated that if the USPS management team was not soon allowed to address its multiple structural deficiencies, its long-term fiscal outlook would most resemble the strife-ridden country of Greece. “We need less expensive work hours, and we need more flexibility on who can do what jobs…Nobody can operate with 1940 work rules in a 2020 environment,” stated Donahoe.
More Oversight Needed for our Veterans
On January 24, 2011, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a report detailing the improper benefits given to disabled veterans. The report discussed temporary 100 percent benefits, which the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is supposed to continually monitor and reduce when necessary and concluded that the VBA made mistakes in “about 27,500 (15 percent) of these veterans’ evaluations.” These mistakes “will overpay veterans a projected $1.1 billion over the next 5 years.”
Identity Fraud Hits Taxpayers in the Wallet
For many years, it has been clear that identity theft is a grave threat to the fiscal sovereignty of millions of Americans. For its victims, many of whom are saddled with the new and unwelcome full-time job of battling fraudulent credit card charges and mounting debt, normal life can seem a long way off. Even those who do everything right, from hiring lawyers to disputing each new charge, can be in for a long, painful battle. And while there is nothing good about identity theft, it is at least fortunate that the problem has historically been largely contained to the individual – until recently.
Defense Waste: The Final Frontier
As the country careens toward the automatic year-end program cuts and expiration of tax breaks labeled “the fiscal cliff,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has been on the offensive, releasing reports in consecutive months highlighting wasteful spending in government. The November WasteWatcher detailed Sen. Coburn’s Wastebook 2012, which targeted 100 projects costing taxpayers more than $18 billion.
Identity Fraud Hits Taxpayers in the Wallet
Luke Gelber For many years, it has been clear that identity theft is a grave threat to the fiscal sovereignty of millions of Americans. For its victims, many of whom are saddled with the new and unwelcome full-time job of battling fraudulent credit card charges and mounting debt, normal life can seem a long way […]
No Last-Minute Delivery on Postal Reform
By Leslie Paige WasteWatcher, December, 2012 The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced on November 15, 2012 that in fiscal year (FY) 2012, which ended on September 30, the agency lost a record $15.9 billion. In June, 2012 at a PostalVision 2020 conference in Washington, Postmaster General (PMG) Patrick Donahoe flatly stated that if the […]
More Oversight Needed for our Veterans
By: Tom Miller On January 24, 2011, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a report detailing the improper benefits given to disabled veterans. The report discussed temporary 100 percent benefits, which the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is supposed to continually monitor and reduce when necessary and […]
Defense Waste: The Final Frontier
Sean Kennedy As the country careens toward the automatic year-end program cuts and expiration of tax breaks labeled “the fiscal cliff,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has been on the offensive, releasing reports in consecutive months highlighting wasteful spending in government. The November Wastewatcher detailed Sen. Coburn’s Wastebook 2012, which targeted 100 projects costing taxpayers more […]
Wireless Taxes Continue Upward Trend
Wireless communications adoption has grown from 48.7 million subscribers in 1997 to 321.7 million subscribers in 2012. While the number of wireless consumers is on the rises, and a greater number are choosing to “cut the cord” on their landline connections, the state and local tax burden has also skyrocketed. Frequently seen as a quick way to increase revenues into state coffers, an October 29, 2012 report by Scott Mackey of KSE Partners shows that taxes on wireless consumers continue to rise at a steady pace.
Abolishing a Free and Open Internet: The fight is just beginning
From December 3 through December 14, the U.N. International Telecommunications Union will be convening the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) to review proposals to the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITR). The last update to this treaty occurred in 1988; meanwhile the Internet has continued to grow and thrive under the current multi-stakeholder regime, with nearly 2.3 billion users worldwide at the end of 2011. Yet, even with the growth in use and access, some countries would like the U.N. to “take over” the Internet, rather than allowing the continued multi-stakeholder approach.