Government waste

[Cancel 2016.2]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030106448.html

The U.S. government has, for example, more than 100 programs dealing with surface transportation issues, 82 that monitor teacher quality, 80 for economic development, 56 for "financial literacy," 20 offices or programs devoted to homelessness and 17 grant programs for disaster preparedness, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Tuesday. Among other redundancies, 15 agencies or offices handle food safety, and five agencies are working to ensure that the federal government uses less gasoline.

"Reducing or eliminating duplication, overlap, or fragmentation could potentially save billions of taxpayer dollars annually and help agencies provide more efficient and effective services," the GAO said.

How is this not a major story? This should be all over the news. Instead we get John Edwards and Charlie Sheen.

 

[evince]

Who was it that ordered that study?

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

A 2006 Defense Department study recommended a unified medical command, but nothing came of it. The idea could have saved taxpayers between $281 million and $460 million, the GAO said. Consolidating the Pentagon's contract acquisition offices, military intelligence operations and efforts to track improvised explosive devices could save tens of billions more, it said.

While this is just a small cut in defense.... shouldn't we actually be cutting anything and everything the DoD says we can to save money?

We can go for the larger cuts as well, but this seems to be a no brainer.

Much of the Obama administration's economic stimulus program has relied on the distribution of federal highway construction dollars, but the government's approach remains mired in the 1950s, auditors said. Federal transportation involves more than 6,000 workers at five agencies within the Transportation Department, running about 100 funding streams for highways, transit systems, rail and safety, the report said. The overlap costs an estimated $58 billion annually.

Great.... who needs that $58B each year... let's just piss it away.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Who was it that ordered that study?

try reading the article....

The study, ordered last year as part of legislation raising the federal debt limit, quickly earned the attention of lawmakers eager to identify potential spending cuts.

 

[evince]

It was the 111th congress.

Why did the republicans never order such a study while in power?

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Upon taking office, Obama quickly appointed a chief performance officer, a new position meant to tackle government organizational issues.

Jeffrey Zients, who holds the position, will lead Obama's efforts to overhaul federal trade issues and is directing efforts to reduce the government's real estate portfolio.

His colleagues Aneesh Chopra, the government's chief technology officer, and Vivek Kundra, its chief information officer, are working to consolidate 2,100 data centers used by federal agencies.

That is a good idea, according to the GAO. The government used just 432 data centers in 1998, and a consolidation could save taxpayers up to $200 billion in the next decade.

A good start. Hopefully this is the beginning of a long term trend to get the friggin waste out of DC.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

It was the 111th congress.

Why did the republicans never order such a study while in power?

you are such a hack.... who gives a fuck. It was a REP that MADE them issue the report to the public.

Should we ask why DEMS didn't MAKE the report be issued to the public? Is that the point? Partisan bullshit?

 

[Bonestorm]

A good start. Hopefully this is the beginning of a long term trend to get the friggin waste out of DC.

SF: Before you jump in on this one I fell compelled to inform you that Jeffrey Zients is often referred to as the Government Performance Czar and Chopra is the Technology Czar. I mean, I'd hate for you to lose street cred amongst your fellow travelers by suggesting that these "czars" are a good idea.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

SF: Before you jump in on this one I fell compelled to inform you that Jeffrey Zients is often referred to as the Government Performance Czar and Chopra is the Technology Czar. I mean, I'd hate for you to lose street cred amongst your fellow travelers by suggesting that these "czars" are a good idea.

Hey moron.... I said the good start was in eliminating this waste. Not the manner in which the people in charge were put in place.

 

[Rune]

Hey moron.... I said the good start was in eliminating this waste. Not the manner in which the people in charge were put in place.

This czar did good work. Down with czars. Who is the moron?

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

This czar did good work. Down with czars. Who is the moron?

This is a perfect analog to saying that because a blind squirrel finds an acorn, being blind is necessary to find acorns.

 

[Canceled.LTroll.21]

The middle class, which used to be the source of our prosperity, is shrinking.

That's a major story, not a politically-motivated report made-to-order.