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Home Front
GOP Targets Waste, Fraud In Government Programs
2003-05-22
Greatly edited.
"With an eye on the economy and looming budget deficits, House Republicans today are launching what could prove to be a controversial effort to trim waste, fraud and abuse from government programs.
To the use the words of the Senate Minority Leader, I am greatly troubled to see the GOP cast away its fiscal conservativism in favor of budget deficits. Although this is a good step it may not be a politically prudent one. DeLay and company are gift-wrapping a hot campaign device for the Democrats by only going after social welfare programs. Once again, the Republicans will be perceived as the class bullys.
With the support of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) has asked House committees to come up with a one-percent cut in social programs such as Medicare, Social Security and welfare." Liberal groups are wary of such crusades. Richard Kogan of the Center On Budget and Policy Priorities says it's not easy to squeeze a substantial amount of waste and fraud out of any program, regardless of how well intended the effort may be.
"Nope. Nope. Can't do it. Nope."
As a former small business owner, I would tend to disagree strongly with that. If I can cut costs in a small business then surely the fat can be trimmed in the government. What isn't "easy" is the squealing voices of thousands of government-dependent constituents.
"The best thing you can do if you're concerned about areas of fraud, like Medicare over-billing, is not only put more people to work ... double checking the claims and modernizing your computer system," but also to step up enforcement, such as increasing penalties on people trying to bilk the system.
Good point, especially considering the stories out this week on the IRS' inability to collect from tax scofflaws.
But, Kogan cautioned, recreating a Grace Commission would be the wrong way to go.
Yeah. Better to do, ummm... something else. Or nothing. That always works.
Posted by:ColoradoConservative

#4  Strange. They sure sing a different tune when it comes to military spending...
Posted by: Ptah   2003-05-22 20:43:05  

#3  Pork barrel politics will stop when politicians think they need to hide the roads and government contracts they bring into their districts instead of bragging about them. How many people really vote against a politician because of spending in their district? How many of the US folks on Rantburg do?

That said, if you can't find at least 1% waste in any operation (public or private), you're not really looking. If I thought this was on the level, I'd be all for it.
Posted by: VAMark   2003-05-22 13:27:51  

#2  I'm sure Citizens Against Government Waste could give Congress a hand. They've identified $22.5 Billion in this year's "Pig Book". Guess who has a prominent share of that? Did you say our wonderful D-KKK??? Right on! Problem is, he's not alone. Very, very few of our elected "servants" escape unscathed.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-05-22 09:26:57  

#1  Seems a good start would be cutting"Pork barrel politics".
Posted by: Raptor   2003-05-22 09:15:06  

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