The summer appropriations process for the Department of Defense (DOD), beginning with the initial authorizing bills, has thus far brought a mixed bag of news. On the positive side, the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) directs the Pentagon to look for commercial products capable of performing functions currently under the purview […]
The Emperor’s New Clothes?
President Obama and his minions have been wringing their hands and warning us that the nation will face catastrophic hardships as the sequester is implemented.
911 Funds Should Support 911 Functions
The 911 system is a valuable emergency communications tool available nationwide, and supported, in part, through fees typically designated as either 911 funds or enhanced 911 (E-911) fees.
Zombie Apocalypse Threatens Taxpayer Dollars, Not Nation’s Security
In December 2012, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) released Safety At Any Price: Assessing the Impact of Homeland Security Spending in U.S. Cities, which focused on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant programs, including the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). Those who are familiar with Sen. Coburn’s previous work were not surprised by the numerous examples of wasteful spending in the report, such as federal funding for a zombie apocalypse demonstration.
House Passes Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act
Cybersecurity has been a very prevalent issue on Capitol Hill recently with legislation such as The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and The Protect IP Act (PIPA) being introduced before Congress. Both of these bills pertain to issues of piracy and online theft, and the negative impact they can have on the economy. As concerns […]
Stop the state raids on the E 911 communications funds
In most situations, consumers expect to get what they are paying for. For example, communications bills in most states include an Enhanced 911 (E 911) tax or fee. Based on its title, consumers would assume that this money is used for upgrades to the existing 911 services in their state or locality. This is a valid premise, given that the current 911 system has been around for decades and needs improvement and modernization. However, in some states, the E 911 funds are not always used for their intended purpose.
DHS Grants: Legacy of Waste
Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. prioritized Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants to prepare state and local emergency personnel for further incidences of terrorism or other catastrophic events. However, like most programs, members of Congress quickly began using DHS grants for parochial projects. The Center for Investigative Reporting stated in 2011 that the U.S. has spent $34 billion on such grants over ten years.
To Honor The Fallen, Stop Wasting Money
When the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, lawmakers decreed that the new House and Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittees would not accept earmark requests. The decision to keep earmarking out of DHS funding decisions seemed to show that members of Congress truly believed in protecting national security. It also made the point that elected officials in Washington know how easy it is for opportunistic legislators to leverage a crisis for parochial benefit.
Stimulus Rebellion on the Eastern Shore
There is a brawl brewing in the bucolic fields of Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. The Obama Administration’s $862 billion stimulus fund, ostensibly targeted toward shovel-ready, jobs-producing projects, is going toward the construction of a decidedly non-shovel-ready 2,000-acre U.S. State Department security training facility that residents in the region neither need nor want. This tiny band of committed activists, comprised of Republicans, Democrats, private property rights advocates, conservationists, and small business owners, may go down in history as one of the only communities in the country to successfully reject a wasteful stimulus pork project.
PASS ID
In 2005, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) put on a full court press to stop the implementation of the REAL ID Act. After being attached to a supplemental appropriations bill and being voted on without hearings or any debate, REAL ID was going to be an expensive national ID card that would have put tax dollars and privacy at risk. REAL ID was supposed to be implemented by the end of 2008. Due to states opting out and logistical problems, that deadline has been pushed to the end of 2009, a date that is still impossible to meet.