The WasteWatcher
The WasteWatcherBudget Season: The Most Expensive Time of the Year
Under President Obama’s watch, federal spending has continued to balloon unchecked and taxpayers now hold the bill for a staggering $15.6 trillion national debt. There has never been a more crucial time in the nation’s history to pass a fiscally...
The WasteWatcherStop the state raids on the E 911 communications funds
In most situations, consumers expect to get what they are paying for. For example, communications bills in most states include an Enhanced 911 (E 911) tax or fee. Based on its title, consumers would assume that this money is used for upgrades to the...
The WasteWatcherGovernment Waste Watchdogs Under Fire
Federal spending, both in real terms as well as a percentage of gross domestic product, has swollen to near-historic levels. An equally alarming, but less high-profile trend compound taxpayers’ concerns: government watchdogs, tasked to sniff out...
The WasteWatcherNext Steps for Healthcare Reform
While no one can be sure of the outcome of the Supreme Court case on Obamacare, if the Court finds the law is unconstitutional, Congress will be forced to consider a new approach to providing more affordable access to healthcare for millions of...
The WasteWatcherIt’s Déjà Vu All Over Again: GAO Exposes Government Waste and Duplication at its Worst
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...
The WasteWatcherDeveloping 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 WasteWatcherFHA – 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...
The WasteWatcherObama Doubles Down on Corporate Welfare
On February 17, 2011, after touring Boeing’s plant in Everett, Washington, where the Dreamliner is built, President Obama announced that he will ask Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), and that he will...
The WasteWatcherPresident Obama’s Corporate Tax Plan Invites Crony Capitalism
On February 22, 2012, President Obama released a proposal to lower the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent, while also eliminating loopholes in the tax code. Considering that the effective corporate tax rate of 34.6 percent in the U.S....
The WasteWatcherPotential Savings Exist in DOD Budget
Faced with a historic national debt and a projected $2.2 trillion deficit over the next two years, the country’s leadership is currently grappling with ways to reduce spending. One program which politicians from both sides of the aisle agree should...
The WasteWatcherTaxpayers Charged Billions to Anoint Green Car Manufacturing Winners
In an effort to alleviate the burden of rising gasoline prices on the economy and reduce vehicle emissions, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) in 2007. The legislation ramped up fuel economy standards and encouraged the...
The WasteWatcherObama’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...
