It is no secret that the federal government has too much real property. Plainly put, Uncle Sam is one extremely disorganized landlord that likes to purchase, lease, and hoard large amounts of costly real estate. And as with most operations left to languish at the hands of bureaucrats, the business is terribly wrought with mismanagement and a serious lack of transparency.
Obstruction Junction, What’s Your Function?
In 2009, U.S. officials discovered that Mexican cartels had become the leading gun-traffickers responsible for high levels of crime throughout the Southwest U.S.
A Glimmer of Hope at Yucca Mountain
On October 16, 2014, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued its Yucca Mountain Safety Evaluation Report 3, which confirmed what unbiased observers have long known: the facility meets the government’s long-term regulatory and safety requirements as a nuclear-waste repository. Progress on opening Yucca has continually stalled due to a variety of factors, but chief among them has been the opposition of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who has used his position of power to thwart efforts to open the site. Now that the Republican Party has captured the majority in the Senate, common sense may finally win the day.
WHO Are You to Raise the Tobacco Tax?
Black-and-white images of soldiers abroad brandishing “victory cigars” in the fight against a cruel and oppressive enemy lit up television screens in homes across the nation, and “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” by Merle Travis was a national hit on the air waves. Cigarettes were an icon of glamor with a hint of rugged sophistication, and America was very much the land of the free and home of the brave during World War II.
The CFPB’s Auto Loan Financing Fight
In March 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued guidance stating that auto finance sources would be held accountable for discriminatory pricing resulting from the indirect financing practice known as dealer reserve. This attack on a longstanding and previously unquestioned industry standard was amped up on September 17, 2014, when the CFPB proposed expanding its oversight to non-bank auto lenders, such as Ford Motor Credit Co. and Toyota Financial Services. Although the agency contends that its regulations are necessary to fight discrimination in lending practices and protect consumers, the CFPB has not produced reliable evidence to support its claims.
The War on (Minimum) Wage Payers
Our nation’s Founding Fathers never intended to put the government in charge of picking winners and losers, but as citizens look more and more to Uncle Sam for special favors and handouts, that is precisely what is happening. In the process, the storied American character that once valued hard work and venerated self-reliance has itself […]
A Promising Proposal to Reduce Waste in Medicare
Now that members of Congress have returned from the August recess, they have several big-ticket items to accomplish before the legislative year comes to an end in December. One non-controversial item that could be taken up is the Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act, which aims to reduce waste and fraud in Medicare.
State Labeling Would Be a Logistical Calamity
For the past several years, activist groups such as Food Democracy Now! and Just Label It! have been pushing for mandatory labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Unfortunately, the exuberance of this grassroots effort may cause more harm than good.
Weird Science
In John Hughes’ 1985 sophomoric romp, Weird Science, a pair of hormonal high-schoolers manufacture the girl of their dreams with the help of a Barbie doll, a home computer, and a well-timed bolt of lightning. It was an absurd premise, but if recent grant recipients are any guide, it might be a good candidate for […]
Irregular Order Comes Back
When Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, it established a topline discretionary spending budget, formally known as the 302(a) allocation, for fiscal years (FY) 2014 and 2015. Although there were several negative aspects of the budget compromise, many of which Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) pointed out to members of Congress before they voted on the bill, one of the positive aspects was that it marked the first time since April 29, 2009 that Congress had passed a budget and set the stage for a return to regular order. Unfortunately, as Congress prepares to embark on a five-week legislative recess, it is certain that a normal budget process will not occur this year.