WasteWatcher, January, 2013
Defense Waste: The Final Frontier
Sean Kennedy As the country careens toward the automatic year-end program cuts and expiration of tax breaks labeled “the fiscal cliff,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has been on the offensive, releasing reports in consecutive months highlighting wasteful spending in government. The November Wastewatcher detailed Sen. Coburn’s Wastebook 2012, which targeted 100 projects costing taxpayers more […]
Identity Fraud Hits Taxpayers in the Wallet
Luke Gelber For many years, it has been clear that identity theft is a grave threat to the fiscal sovereignty of millions of Americans. For its victims, many of whom are saddled with the new and unwelcome full-time job of battling fraudulent credit card charges and mounting debt, normal life can seem a long way […]
More Oversight Needed for our Veterans
By: Tom Miller On January 24, 2011, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a report detailing the improper benefits given to disabled veterans. The report discussed temporary 100 percent benefits, which the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is supposed to continually monitor and reduce when necessary and […]
No Last-Minute Delivery on Postal Reform
By Leslie Paige WasteWatcher, December, 2012 The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced on November 15, 2012 that in fiscal year (FY) 2012, which ended on September 30, the agency lost a record $15.9 billion. In June, 2012 at a PostalVision 2020 conference in Washington, Postmaster General (PMG) Patrick Donahoe flatly stated that if the […]
A Vice Presidential Comparison
With the presidential election just around the corner and the lion’s share of media attention going to the nominees, we at Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) thought it might make sense to shed some light on the candidates for Vice President. On November 6, one of these men will be elected President of the Senate and the second most prominent member of the Executive Branch. He will be first in line to assume the highest office in the land, a transition that has occurred without an election nine times.
Coburn Report Reveals Waste
During his 17 years as a senator and representative, Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has established himself as a staunch opponent of frivolous federal spending. His annual Wastebook has regularly provided valuable information for taxpayers regarding the specific ways the federal government wastes money. Released in October, Wastebook 2012 highlights 100 projects costing taxpayers more than $18 billion.
Mobile Government Apps Lack Transparency, Direction
Since entering the market for mobile apps, the federal government has shown little restraint on deployment and no respect for taxpayers. According to USA.gov, there are currently 107 mobile apps among federal agencies. Given the scope of many of the apps on the website, insufficient planning has resulted in duplication. Even worse, there is no indication of the cost of development and deployment of these new apps to taxpayers. Given these shortcomings, government agencies must coordinate efforts in order to increase transparency and minimize duplication.
Unsolicited Mail Should Not be Funded by Taxpayers
There’s a lot that $63,000 can buy: a year’s worth of tuition, fees, and related expenses at Harvard; three years of healthcare costs for an average family of four; a brand new 2012 BMW Z4 Roadster with an automatic transmission and a turbocharged inline-six; or, if you’re a member of the House of Representatives, nine month’s worth of unsolicited mail.
When Regulating, Less is More
In fact, if the findings of two recent reports are any indication, government regulations are choking off a large measure of private-sector activity, and their grip is getting stronger. The first report, “License to Work,” published by the Institute for Justice (IJ) on May 8, 2012, documents the expansion of many ludicrous licensing laws. These regulations, most of which were implemented at the state level in the name of protecting consumers, often amount to incumbent businesses raising barriers to entry. For example, it is easier to make money as an electrician when potential competitors face higher hurdles to doing business in a particular area.