Buried in the bleak history of the Great Depression can be found the beginning of the end for the iconic “Yellow Cab.” With unemployment at a staggering 18 percent in 1938, the working class scrambled to find ways to make ends meet. Driving taxicabs became the only choice for many. This influx of drivers quickly […]
Failure of PEPFAR in Africa: Abstain from Abstinence
The President’s Emergency Plan For Aids Relief (PEPFAR) is an initiative started by then-President George W. Bush in 2003. PEPFAR was design to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa by providing antiretroviral treatments to people in resource-limited settings. According to a February 14, 2013 Foreign Policy article, the program is estimated to have saved million of lives in the last ten years. However, some parts of the program have been heavily criticized for attempting to impose an outside set of values on communities that are significantly different culturally.
Changing the Prescription for America’s Public Universities
It is much easier to take a pill than to overhaul a lifestyle. The word “free” was the prescription offered by some in the presidential primaries to millennials in order to ease the crushing burden of skyrocketing student debt. However, the problem with America’s public universities is not a lack of public funding.
Weapons of Mass Waste
The Department of Defense (DOD) maintains approximately $70 billion worth of conventional ammunition in case of unexpected contingencies. From this reserve, the DOD routinely removes ammunition that it deems excessive, damaged, unusable, or otherwise obsolete. This surplus is transferred to various Army facilities for storage, or eventual destruction. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, the DOD transferred 44 million items, including bullets, detonation cords, fuses, and grenades. The stockpile awaiting destruction is valued at $16 billion.
Rethinking Refundable Tax Credits
Over the course of the past 40 years, members of Congress have created refundable tax credits (RTCs), which have become ubiquitous in the tax code. RTCs are available for everything from employment to education to having children. However, mismanagement and a lack of oversight by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Congress have enabled RTCs to become a multibillion dollar source of wasteful spending.
New Regulations for the Unaffordable Care Act
Since it was signed into law on March 23, 2010, the $1.2 trillion Affordable Care Act (ACA) has proven unaffordable for a large percentage of Americans. To escape the high costs, many individuals have sought relief in the form of short-term coverage plans.
Adiós, Puerto Rico – A Story of Shameless Waste and Inefficiency
Plagued by significant population decline, relocation of businesses, and a crushing debt nearing $72 billion, Puerto Rico is in a fiscal crisis. With a $2 billion debt service payment looming on July 1, 2016, the nation is rapidly sliding into an an ever deeper economic depression, driving bipartisan consensus in the House of Representatives rarely […]
A Perfect Picture of Government Efficiency: The Washington D.C. Metro
On June 24, 2010, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced a $5 billion overhaul of the Metrorail and Metrobus system. However, the results of this retrofit have been underwhelming. The problems have persisted to such an extreme degree that on May 6, 2016 WMATA announced a further improvement program, the $60 million SafeTrack, to fix the lines.
Changing the Culture of Wasteful Spending
The U.S. Ambassador to an African nation asked his facility manager to order four flower pots for the embassy; nothing fancy, just four plastic flower pots. He came back and said, on second thought; order a truck load of them since there is a lot of money left in the facilities budget and it should all be spent. The facility manager ordered the pots, and when they arrived, four of them were placed where they were needed around the embassy compound. The rest were unloaded and placed out of sight behind a building, where they were left to slowly crumble in the blazing African sun.
Passage of TPA is a Win for All
On June 24, 2015, the Senate followed the House’s lead and voted 60-38 in favor of H.R. 2146, which contained the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act (TPA). After President Obama signed the bill into law on June 29, 2015, he can now “fast track” trade deals to Congress for approval by a simple majority in both chambers. This process assures trading partners that agreements cannot be amended once a deal has been consummated.