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The WasteWatcherStimulus not Stimulating
The White House announcement on May 20 of 100 projects in 100 days of the stimulus, a plan that was intended to be “timely, temporary, and targeted,” was greeted with great skepticism, including an ongoing dispute about the amount of money that has...
The WasteWatcherEnergy Battle Heats Up
Americans are feeling some relief from the drop in gas prices, which were more than $4.00 per gallon last summer and now hover around $2.25 per gallon. After expectations that winter home heating costs would rise dramatically above the prior year,...
The WasteWatcherTaking Taxpayers for a Ride
Most Americans have a favorite train story. When my parents took my brother, sister and me out West in 1966, we took the overnight train from Denver to Salt Lake City. We were awed by the beautiful scenery from the dome cars, ate well, slept...
The WasteWatcherRailing Against High-Speed Rail
On November 4, voters in California will have a dozen propositions on the ballot. There are four bond issues, including renewable energy, veterans housing, and children’s hospitals. The most expensive – Proposition 1A – would provide for a bond...
The WasteWatcherEarmarks Invade DC
An op-ed in the May 17 Washington Post by Colbert King showed that earmarks know no boundaries. King cited $56 million in projects in the District of Columbia’s budget that were “initiated and approved by the [city] council without extensive...
The WasteWatcherExtreme Makeover: San Joaquin River
How much should it cost to restore salmon to a river? Try $22 million per salmon under legislation that is moving through Congress.
The WasteWatcherEurope Assaults U.S. Businesses
As the global economy slows, every effort should be made to encourage businesses to invest, innovate, and market their products around the world. Unfortunately for taxpayers and investors, European regulators are abusing their power in a manner...
The WasteWatcherPork is Alive and Well
The new fiscal year dawned on October 1 without a federal budget and the Congress graciously granted itself another six weeks to complete its constitutional mandate to pass all 12 appropriations bills. If it feels like déjà vu, that’s because it is.
The WasteWatcherProposed Merger Threatens Taxpayers and Launch Market
Ronald Reagan once said, “The ... inescapable truth is: government does not have all the answers. In too many instances, government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them."
The WasteWatcherSalvage the Good from the Healthcare Debacle
The healthcare reform juggernaut, arguably the most radical attempt to remake the economy and the nation’s healthcare infrastructure in history, was supposed to have flown through Congress before the August recess with nary a peep. Instead, as...
