Voter registration and vote fraud is once again front and center as November 4 approaches. As in previous elections, the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now, or ACORN, is at the center of political and legal storms.
2008 Prime Cuts is a Guide to Cut Spending
With the election on November 4th looming, both Presidential candidates have pledged to go through the budget line by line to find wasteful spending. Whoever wins could save a lot of time by reading Citizens Against Government Waste’s 2008 Prime Cuts, a list of 700 recommendations that would save $27 billion on one year and $1.2 trillion over five years. The new President will inherit a $455 billion deficit from fiscal year 2008 and be staring at a possible $1 trillion deficit for fiscal year 2009. There’s no room for new programs and plenty of incentive to cut those that are ineffective, duplicative, or wasteful.
Treasury’s Toxic Waste Dump…on Taxpayers
The move is unprecedented and historical; the price tag, up to $700 billion, is staggering; reaction in the nation’s capital has been fluid, chaotic, enraged and, now, perhaps obstructionist.
Old Porkers Learn New Tricks
On September 24, the House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2009 Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 392-39. The Senate will approve the legislation as well. It includes more than $600 billion for national security programs in the Energy and Defense departments.
Medicare Fraud: Not a New Story
Just before the August congressional break, I was asked to testify before a forum on Medicare fraud that was chaired by Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). Sen. Martinez introduced S. 3164, the Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation Protection Act (STOP) of 2008, a bill that does several things to address the continuing problem of out-of-control fraud in the Medicare program.
Medicare Fraud: Not a New Story
Just before the August congressional break, Citizens Against Government Waste testified before a forum on Medicare fraud that was chaired by Sens. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). Sen. Martinez introduced S. 3164, the Seniors and Taxpayers Obligation Protection Act (STOP) of 2008, a bill that does several things to address the continuing problem of out-of-control fraud in the Medicare program.
FCC Takes First Steps in Enforcing Net Neutrality
The government is one step closer to regulating the Internet as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) attempts to sanction Comcast for its management of Internet traffic. The FCC claims that its authority to act is covered under broadband network principles that were adopted in September 2005. The principles were intended to increase competition among network providers, and allow consumer access to “the lawful Internet content of their choice … run applications and use services of their choice … and connect to their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network.” This was supposed to address network neutrality.
Department of Defense Delays Air Force Tanker Contract Decision…Again
The Department of Defense (DoD) has once again flip-flopped with regard to the awarding of a $40 billion Air Force aerial refueling tanker contract.
Department of Defense Delays Air Force Tanker Contract Decision…Again
The Department of Defense (DoD) has once again flip-flopped with regard to the awarding of a $40 billion Air Force aerial refueling tanker contract.
Staying Healthy by Eliminating Waste
When President Bush announced the beginning of the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) during his 2003 State of the Union speech, the five-year, $15 billion measure was announced as “the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease.” Targeting 15 “focus countries,” most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa, the plan embraced a three-pronged strategy based around prevention, treatment and care.