The WasteWatcher
The WasteWatcherMountain of Government Waste at Yucca
Since the 1970s, the U.S. has been searching for a long-term site to store its nuclear waste. The nation’s spent nuclear fuel, which can remain radioactive for thousands of years, is currently sitting in more than 100 temporary facilities scattered...
The WasteWatcherRampant Waste Reported in NSF
A report was released on May 26, 2011 by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that exposed wasteful spending at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The report found $3 billion in mismanagement, with more than $1.2 billion of NSF’s total budget of $6.9...
The WasteWatcherPresident Obama’s “Campaign to Cut Waste” Has Lackluster Prospects
On June 13, 2011, President Obama issued an Executive Order mandating a “renewed effort to hunt down misspent tax dollars in every agency and department of this government.” The President announced the so-called “Campaign to Cut Waste” by posting a...
The WasteWatcherSSDI Funding at Risk
In fiscal year (FY) 2010, the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) shelled out approximately $123 billion in benefits to more than 10 million disabled workers and their dependents. Reforms in the SSDI program are long overdue; without...
The WasteWatcherStates Need More Flexibility, Fewer Mandates to Manage Medicaid
Lawmakers are scrambling to address the staggering $14.29 trillion national debt and a vote to raise the debt ceiling is fast approaching. While legislators negotiate cuts to discretionary spending, they must also consider making significant reforms...
The WasteWatcherCongress and GSE Reform: “Ready, Fire, Aim”?
Home sales are still abysmal and are expected to fall further. Foreclosures continue unabated, no end in sight. According to RealtyTrac, “there are 872,000 homes that have been repossessed by lenders, but have yet to be sold.” Sales of distressed...
The WasteWatcherUSPS in Disarray
The problems facing the United States Postal Service (USPS) are legion. On May 11, 2011 five USPS supervisors from Michigan and Ohio were charged with taking bribes consisting of cash, cars, drinks, and lap dances. In return, the supervisors...
The WasteWatcherDon’t Get Fooled Again – Auto Bailouts Still Stink
On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) unveiled a video that can only be described as the first Obama-for-President advertisement of the 2012 election cycle. The video purports to skewer likely presidential candidates Mitt...
The WasteWatcherDespite Federal Largesse, Educational Performance Remains Unchanged
On May 16, President Obama traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to deliver the commencement address for graduates of Booker T. Washington High School. The school has had notable improvements in academic performance, and won the administration’s Race to...
The WasteWatcherWhy America Must Lower Its Corporate Income Tax Rate
America is stuck in the middle of a corporate tax nightmare. While the rest of the industrialized world has realized that low corporate tax rates are necessary to succeed in the twenty-first century global economy, America continues to miss the boat...
The WasteWatcherGoogle under Fire
Google is the world’s largest search engine, and Android by some estimates is the most popular mobile platform, but the company is facing several problems related to privacy and security, as well as the validity of claims made in regard to software...
The WasteWatcherThe Pig Book is Dead, Long Live the Pig Book
Every year around tax day, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) holds its infamous press conference to release the annual Congressional Pig Book, which highlights the most egregious earmarks stuffed by members of Congress into the 12...
