On March 1, 2011, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published “Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue,” identifying 34 agencies, offices, and initiatives that provide similar or identical services to the same populations, along with 47 programs that are either wasteful or inefficient. The list includes 18 nutrition and food assistance programs, 47 job retraining programs, and 80 economic development programs, along with $77 billion of waste at the Department of Defense and $125 billion in improper payments by government agencies, among many others.
FHA – The Next Housing Bailout
On February 29, 2102, like a perverted state-run version of Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, officials at the bankrupt government-sponsored housing enterprise (GSE) Fannie Mae, after sustaining another $24 billion in losses during the previous quarter, trundled up to the federal trough once again, bleating “May I have some more.” The GSE needed $4.6 billion.
Developing a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights
As the use of online services increases, reports about the tracking and monitoring of consumers’ online use by government and corporations are on the rise.
The Elephant in the Room
Every summer, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) combs through the dozens of budget proposals drafted by Presidents past and present, senators, representatives, think tanks, and nonprofits in an effort to come up with a list called Prime Cuts that would hack away at government bloat and lighten the load for taxpayers. CAGW staff takes this project seriously, leaving no stone unturned and sparing no agency. Last year, for the first time since 1993, CAGW produced a Prime Cuts Summary detailing the federal government’s most wasteful and outdated programs.
State and Local Government Defined Benefit Plans Are “Inherently Flawed”
On January 10, 2012, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) released a report on state and local government defined benefit pension plans in which he detailed the risks associated with the nation’s $4.4 trillion public pension debt, calling the defined benefit pensions structure “inherently flawed in the state and local government setting.” This massive liability is dangerous for taxpayers and could mean future cuts in services, reductions in benefits, higher taxes, or a combination of these less-than-desirable options.
Obama’s Proposal to Merge Agencies Merits Thorough Review
As part of a larger proposal to shrink and streamline government, the Obama administration announced on January 13, 2012 that it is seeking congressional approval to merge federal agencies. The President’s plan would not allow Congress to modify administration proposals, but the adoption of any plan would be subject to an up-or-down vote.
Lifeline/Link -Up Reform on FCC Agenda
The Lifeline program is part of the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) low-income support services, providing subsidized telephone services to low-income households. The low-income support program also includes the Link-Up program, which provides a discount off the initial installation fee for one traditional, wire line telephone service at a primary residence, or the activation fee for one wireless telephone. The Link-Up program also allows subscribers to pay the remaining amount they owe for their connection on a deferred schedule, interest-free.
Food Stamp Expansion and Fraud
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, has grown dramatically under President Obama’s administration. At the start of his term, in January 2009, there were approximately 32 million Americans receiving federal assistance from SNAP, costing more than $3.6 billion per month.
DHS Grants: Legacy of Waste
Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. prioritized Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants to prepare state and local emergency personnel for further incidences of terrorism or other catastrophic events. However, like most programs, members of Congress quickly began using DHS grants for parochial projects. The Center for Investigative Reporting stated in 2011 that the U.S. has spent $34 billion on such grants over ten years.
Time to End Earmarks Once and For All
Year after year, lawmakers have sullied the political process by directing chunks of the federal budget back to their home districts and states to promote their own reelections and reward special interests. In an attempt to put an end to this form of profligate spending, Senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) recently introduced S. 1930, The Earmark Elimination Act, which would build upon and make permanent the current earmark moratorium that is set to expire at the end of 2012.