Do you think government waste should be used for pay or equipment?

2015-05-10T06:48:15-04:00

"The report also calls out federal officials for approving $14 million for "a duplicative catfish inspection office," $391,000 for a National Institutes of Health dog bite prevention website, and $15,000 for an Environmental Protection Agency study into pollution from backyard barbecues."

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/05/07/mccain-waste-report/70937622/

Waste report: Guard's racecars, bomb-sniffing elephants

The Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman's report lists $295 billion in wasteful or unauthorized federal programs.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 10 at 2015 6:50 AM

2015-05-10T06:50:19-04:00

I think that "government waste" --- like the programs pointed out --- should be stopped and the money redirected to paying down the national debt, rebuilding our critical infrastructure, revitalizing social security, etc. Unfortunately, our political "leadership" doesn't seem to care about doing what's right for the country anymore ... only what benefits the entitled few, the illegal immigrants, and the citizens of other countries.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 10 at 2015 8:15 AM

2015-05-10T08:15:09-04:00

How is this surprising? No machine is 100% efficient. Assuming that we won't have duplicated effort will drive you insane in the long run.

Authorized programs that spend money that isn't needed is bad oversight. That's Congress. We have no one to blame but ourselves on that. We have countless organizations that are supposed to catch that.

Now, "unauthorized" programs. That's theft. Catch them, burn them. Simple solution. You don't steal.

As for where the money "should" go. It doesn't matter. It doesn't really exist. These are budgetary "hiccups" that weren't caught until it was too late. This isn't saved money. This is spent money. It's like having spent your entire paycheck and realizing that magazine subscription to Cat Fancy wasn't turned off. Still paid it. Can't get that $20 back now. It's gone. Sure it could have gone to food, or rent, or the credit card bill, but it doesn't matter... because now you have 12 more issues of Cat Fancy coming.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 9:13 AM

2015-05-10T09:13:43-04:00

We're also paying for all those "military tributes" the NFL does.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/military-tributes-at-nfl-games-cost-dod--5-4-million--report-says-202032885.html

Makes one pretty cynical about the whole thing.

Military tributes at NFL games cost DoD $5.4 million, report says

It turns out, the military tributes on the video boards of NFL games are for advertising, and the government pays for it.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 10 at 2015 9:23 AM

2015-05-10T09:23:51-04:00

Corn Subsidy (2012) $2,702,462,268
Tobacco Subsidy (2012) $188,776,927
Sunflower Subsidy (2012) $50,877,639
Livestock Subsidy (2012) $58,653,613

When will the madness end?

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 10 at 2015 9:31 AM

2015-05-10T09:31:21-04:00

Further insanity...
As of July 2014, Oil Change International estimates U.S. fossil fuel subsidies at $37.5 billion annually, including $21 billion in production and exploration subsidies.
http://priceofoil.org/fossil-fuel-subsidies/

Fossil Fuel Subsidies: Overview - Oil Change International

A fossil fuel subsidy is any government action that lowers the cost of fossil fuel energy production, raises the price received by energy producers or lowers the price paid by energy consumers. Learn more and join the call to end them!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-05-10T09:34:14-04:00

whoops

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 10 at 2015 11:24 AM

2015-05-10T11:24:28-04:00

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, I can only imagine how much less we'd pay in taxes if it were possible to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse in government.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made May 10 at 2015 12:58 PM

2015-05-10T12:58:57-04:00

Criminals is one of them, they getting feed when so many vets are starving.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 2:15 PM

2015-05-10T14:15:11-04:00

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member. Depending on one's individual perspective there are many programs that may seem on first glance to be unwise - and are often artifact of the way the national budget and federal agency budgeting process work. One major issue is that budget managers are in essence told - this is how much you have to spend this year - if you don't spend all of it - we'll cut your budget next year - so rather than deciding that some project is not worth supporting - agency officials tend to spend until they have no budget left. We could attack this problem by spending a bit more on better oversight, giving some rewards for saving government money, allowing agencies to roll over unused funds into next year, or returning to more critical zero base budgeting across agencies. Frankly, a lot of what passes for legitimate agency expenditure is actually employment subsidy to provide employment security for people who actually ceased to be predictive many years ago - and are insulated from being laid off or terminated by their good buddies or civil service. Unfortunately, any real budget reform will be painful to some politically sensitive people or organizations - and this makes it difficult for anyone who may want to remain office to make themselves campaign targets. The greed, fraud, and waste uncovered by the senator is only the tip of the iceberg !!! Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made May 10 at 2015 3:09 PM

2015-05-10T15:09:28-04:00

YES, the pentagon does have a problem with fraud, waste, and abuse when it comes to spending money. Our military has learned at the teat of Congress where both houses are experts in Pork Barrel deals and spending. Congress originated the idea or Waste, Fraud, and Abuse with it backroom deals and Lobbyists. Is it any surprise that any branch of our bureaucracy looks to the leaders of government for examples for how to conduct business?

Response by SGT Anthony Bussing made May 10 at 2015 10:37 PM

2015-05-10T22:37:12-04:00

if we were to cut money to countries that didnt like us...cut all of our elected officials pay then we could start paying off debt and get solvent again...there isnt an idiot in DC who deserves the kind of coin they get...congress...really...congress needs 150K/year?? for what? what do they do to deserve that kind of pay? not a damn thing...presidents live in a provided housing...they dont need 400K+ a year...screw that...