The WasteWatcher
The WasteWatcherObama Administration Proposal Would Cost U.S. Jobs
The Obama administration keeps coming forward with proposals that would undermine the economic recovery even as it claims to be trying to save it. At least $1 trillion has been spent to supposedly “stimulate” the economy and the budget deficit is...
The WasteWatcherBritish Expense Scandal Should be Lesson for U.S. Lawmakers
The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) in Great Britain was founded in 2004 by Andrew Allum, Matthew Elliott and Florence Heath to “represent taxpayers and to fight for lower taxes.” Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has been working with the...
The WasteWatcherObama’s $106 Billion War Supplemental
On April 9, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a summary of the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, stating that it “is the last planned war supplemental.” In the bill, President Obama...
The WasteWatcherWaxman and Markey Attempt to Go Green, But Put Taxpayers in the Red
On May 21, 2009, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA), which was co-sponsored by Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Energy and the Environment Subcommittee Chairman Ed...
The WasteWatcherBlue Dogs and PAYGO – Living in La La Land
On April 28, 2009, members of the so-called fiscally conservative “Blue Dog” Coalition introduced H.R. 2116, the “Fiscal Honesty and Accountability Act of 2009.” According to their website, the measure “would strengthen Congress’ commitment to...
The WasteWatcherCAGW’s FOIA Project
On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed an economic “stimulus” bill, formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). More than $787 billion is slated to be spent through ARRA to help revive the economy.
The WasteWatcherMedicare/Social Security Insolvency
While the Obama Administration ratchets up support for government-run healthcare, which would be a new entitlement program, the government trustees who monitor the nation’s two largest entitlement programs, Medicare and Social Security, have...
The WasteWatcherDon’t Ground the Presidential Helicopter Program
The presidential helicopter has always provided the media with a picturesque backdrop for the president. One of the most famous images is President Nixon waving goodbye to the White House for the last time on August 9, 1974 from the top step of the...
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 WasteWatcherThe First Cut Is The Lamest, Not The Deepest
In February, President Obama introduced a $3.69 trillion budget for the 2010 fiscal year, a proposal that would, according the Heritage Foundation, increase spending by $1 trillion over the next ten years, lead to a 12 percent increase in...
