The WasteWatcher
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...
The WasteWatcherLifeline/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...
The WasteWatcherFood 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...
The WasteWatcherThe 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...
The WasteWatcherDHS 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...
The WasteWatcherState 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...
The WasteWatcherConnect America Fund: Continuing the Universal Service Fee with No End in Sight
On November 18, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its much-anticipated 759-page proposed rulemaking for the Connect America Fund (CAF), which sets out to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Intercarrier...
The WasteWatcherTime 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...
