As the current version of the stimulus bill awaits a Senate vote and President Obama’s signature, there are still plenty of questions and concerns about whether it will in fact stimulate the economy and create jobs. As House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) states on his website, “We need a bill that creates jobs….” One would think that this would be the goal, except it’s not always the case with this stimulus package.
Waste and Fraud at the Central Intelligence Agency
Waste and fraud at the Central Intelligence Agency not only squanders taxpayers’ money but also endangers American lives. When money is diverted away from intelligence missions on rogue state nuclear threats, for example, Americans are at risk.
The RUS: A Fiscal Ruse
The so-called stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed by the President grows government so much it would even make FDR blush. There are countless expenditures included in the bill that have nothing to do with “fixing” the economy. One such item is $2.5 billion for broadband deployment through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Stimulus Turns Federal Funding Spigot Into a Raging Firehose
With our nation’s faltering economy, businesses, communities, and families are undoubtedly suffering. However, they will not receive relief in the near future from the Democrat’s new federal fiscal stimulus proposal. According to a stimulus spending outlay chart released by Appropriations Committee Republicans, only seven percent of the funding will be spent this fiscal year and […]
Congressional Oversight Needs Improvement
The House and Senate convened for the 111th Congress facing a record budget deficit and are currently considering a massive “stimulus” spending package. Now, more than ever, increased oversight of federal programs is essential to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively. Congress has for far too long failed to adequately perform its oversight responsibilities. While holding more hearings would be helpful, this in and of itself is no guarantee that problems will be identified and corrected. The Obama Administration has promised oversight of how the stimulus money is spent, including the establishment of a new “recovery” website, but that will only happen after hundreds of billions of tax dollars go out the door and only address that legislation. The President has also appointed a chief performance officer in the White House.
580,000 Square-Foot Money Pit
On Tuesday, December 2, the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) opened its doors to its owners – the taxpayers – for the first time. After six years of construction and countless revisions, what seemed like a never-ending project has finally reached completion. While the CVC provides new services for visitors and a nice view of the Capitol, it is the $621 million price tag that has been making news.
Massive Expansion of SCHIP
Congress is poised to pass a massive expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Originally, SCHIP was designed to help low-income families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid gain access to health insurance for their children. However, under the bill currently being considered (H.R. 2), SCHIP’s income eligibility level would rise from the current 200 percent to at least 300 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), or about $63,000 for a family of four. In addition, some states don’t count certain types of income or have an approved waiver in order to boost eligibility for the program.
Fat Corporate Welfare Payouts
On November 4, 2008 Barack Obama won the battle for the Presidency. On January 20, 2008, he will face many difficult challenges. The national economic and financial crisis will place a heavy burden on the federal government. With a $1 trillion budget deficit projected for the current fiscal year, and a federal debt spiraling past $10 trillion, President-elect Obama ought to be preparing to trim some serious fat. Throughout his campaign, he pledged to go through the budget line-by-line in order to cut wasteful spending. While there are multiple of ways to attack government waste, eliminating corporate welfare programs should be one of President-elect Obama’s top priorities.
CAGW’s Project: Privacy
Project: Privacy was created in 2008 and is affiliated with Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW).
CAGW’s Project: Privacy will examine government’s role in ensuring that every person’s information is protected and help citizens manage their privacy. Through education and coalition building, Project: Privacy will build a bi-partisan network of groups and individuals to recommend effective privacy policy at all levels of government.
USDA Makes $49 Million in Payments to Ineligible Individuals
In October, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report titled “Federal Farm Programs: USDA Needs to Strengthen Controls to Prevent Payments to Individuals Who Exceed Income Eligibility Limits.” The report was requested by Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.