GAO Report Shows Massive Duplication In Gov't?

New GAO Report Shows Billions In Government Waste, ‘Could Serve As A Template’ For Reducing Spending

Today in Washington, D.C. - March 1, 2011:
The Senate resumed consideration of S. 23, a patent reform bill. Yesterday, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm two district judge nominees in Georgia.

The House today approved (335-91) a stopgap measure that would keep the federal government funded through March 18 and cut $4 billion in spending by targeting programs that President Obama has already marked for elimination. The bill now goes to the Senate

Reuters wrote yesterday, “As lawmakers returned from a weeklong break, budget-cutting Republicans pressured President Barack Obama's Democrats to accept a proposal to trim $4 billion over the next two weeks by eliminating programs that Obama has also targeted. ‘This week, Democrats will have an opportunity to show that they've gotten the message,’ Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said. ‘They can show they agree the time has come to change the status quo.’”

And Roll Call reports, “Senate Democrats appear poised to swallow the House GOP’s $4 billion spending cut package to avert a government shutdown this week but are trying to figure out how to avoid getting squeezed again in two weeks.”

So while some Democrats have suggested they could support the two week continuing resolution, they continue to resist larger cuts in our current levels of unsustainable government spending. As Bloomberg News notes, “The House, prodded by Republican members elected last year with the support of the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement, passed legislation Feb. 19 that would cut $61 billion in spending this year. That measure called for double-digit reductions in hundreds of government programs, which Senate Democrats said were too extreme and would threaten the economic recovery.” And the AP pointed out last week, “The broader GOP measure is laden with $61 billion in cuts to domestic programs and foreign aid and has provoked a veto threat from the White House and is dead-on-arrival with Senate Democrats.”

As Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell explained yesterday, Democrats’ attitude on spending is in sharp contrast with that of the American people. “Americans have been telling lawmakers for two years that business as usual simply will not cut it anymore. They want us to get our fiscal house in order and to start to create the right conditions for private sector job growth. . . . The message from the November elections is clear: stop spending money we don't have. Yet Democrat leaders persist in defending budgets that do just that well into the future.”

And yet every week there is a new story pointing out simply how much wasteful spending there is in the government, without even getting into deeper cuts. ABC News reports today, “With Congress currently embroiled in a contentious spending fight, a Congressional watchdog has found that a staggering level of duplication is plaguing the bloated federal budget – and chewing up billions of dollars in funding every year.” The Wall Street Journal adds, “A report from the nonpartisan [Government Accountability Office], to be released Tuesday, compiles a list of redundant and potentially ineffective federal programs, and it could serve as a template for lawmakers in both parties as they move to cut federal spending and consolidate programs to reduce the deficit. Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.), who pushed for the report, estimated it identifies between $100 billion and $200 billion in duplicative spending.” According to The Washington Post, the GAO writes, “Reducing or eliminating duplication, overlap, or fragmentation could potentially save billions of taxpayer dollars annually and help agencies provide more efficient and effective services.” And according to ABC, “‘Considering the amount of program dollars involved in the issues we have identified, even limited adjustments could result in significant savings,’ the GAO said.”

Americans sent a clear message to Washington: it’s time to stop spending money we don’t have. Democrats should support the short term House CR when it comes to a vote this week, but there’s so much more that can and must be cut.

‘A Staggering Level Of Duplication Is Plaguing The Bloated Federal Budget’“Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.), Who Pushed For The Report, Estimated It Identifies Between $100 Billion And $200 Billion In Duplicative Spending.” (“Billions In Bloat Uncovered In Beltway,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/11)

GAO: “Reducing Or Eliminating Duplication, Overlap, Or Fragmentation Could Potentially Save Billions Of Taxpayer Dollars Annually And Help Agencies Provide More Efficient And Effective Services.” (“Government Overlap Costs Taxpayers Billions, GAO Reports,” The Washington Post, 3/1/11)

ABC NEWS: “With Congress Currently Embroiled In A Contentious Spending Fight, A Congressional Watchdog Has Found That A Staggering Level Of Duplication Is Plaguing The Bloated Federal Budget – And Chewing Up Billions Of Dollars In Funding Every Year.” (“GAO: Duplication, Waste Costs Taxpayers Billions Each Year, Coburn Says Report Makes Congress Look Like 'Jackasses',” ABC News, 3/1/11)

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: “[I]t Could Serve As A Template For Lawmakers In Both Parties As They Move To Cut Federal Spending And Consolidate Programs To Reduce The Deficit.” (“Billions In Bloat Uncovered In Beltway,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/11)

THE WASHINGTON POST: “The Study, Mandated Last Year As Part Of Legislation Raising The Federal Debt Limit, Is Likely To Be Cited By Lawmakers Pushing For Deeper Spending Cuts As Part Of Ongoing Budget Negotiations.” (“Government Overlap Costs Taxpayers Billions, GAO Reports,” The Washington Post, 3/1/11)

GAO: Massive Overlap In Government Programs“The U.S. Government Has More Than 100 Programs Dealing With Surface Transportation Issues, 82 Monitoring Teacher Quality, 80 For Economic Development, 47 For Job Training, 20 Offices Or Programs Devoted To Homelessness And 17 Different Grant Programs For Disaster Preparedness.” Ibid

“Another 15 Agencies Or Offices Handle Food Safety, And Five Are Working To Ensure The Federal Government Uses Less Gasoline.”Ibid

“The Agency Found 82 Federal Programs To Improve Teacher Quality; 80 To Help Disadvantaged People With Transportation; 47 For Job Training And Employment; And 56 To Help People Understand Finances, According To A Draft Of The Report Reviewed By The Wall Street Journal.” (“Billions In Bloat Uncovered In Beltway,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/11)

“The Report Took Particular Aim At Government Funding For Surface Transportation, Including The Building Of Roads And Other Projects, Which The Administration Has Made A Major Part Of Its Push To Update The Country's Infrastructure.” Ibid

“The Report Said Five Divisions Within The Department Of Transportation Account For 100 Different Programs That Fund Things Like Highways, Rail Projects And Safety Programs.” Ibid

“The Report Says There Are 18 Federal Programs That Spent A Combined $62.5 Billion In 2008 On Food And Nutrition Assistance, But Little Is Known About The Effectiveness Of 11 Of These Programs Because They Haven't Been Well Studied.” Ibid

“The GAO Highlighted 80 Different Economic Development Programs At The Department Of Commerce, HUD, Department Of Agriculture And Small Business Administration, That Spent A Combined $6.5 Billion Last Year And Often Overlapped.” Ibid

GAO: Billions In Stimulus Relied On Distribution System That Is ‘Mired In The 1950s’THE WASHINGTON POST: “Much Of The Obama Administration's Economic Stimulus Program Has Relied On The Distribution Of Federal Highway Construction Dollars, But The Government's Approach To The Issue Remains Mired In The 1950s, Auditors Said.” (“Government Overlap Costs Taxpayers Billions, GAO Reports,” The Washington Post, 3/1/11)

“Federal Transportation Issues Now Involve More Than 6,000 Workers At Five Agencies Within The Transportation Department, Running About 100 Separate Funding Streams For Highways, Transit Systems, Rail And Transportation Safety, The Report Said. The Overlap Costs An Estimated $58 Billion Annually.” Ibid

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) responded today previewing today’s House vote on yet another measure to keep the government running while cutting spending to help create a better environment for private-sector job growth: “In order to create a better environment for job creation, we must rein in out-of-control federal spending. Today, House Republicans will pass a responsible bill to keep the government open for two weeks while cutting $4 billion. After initially attacking this plan and opposing any spending cuts, Senator Reid and Senate Democrats have been forced to retreat. As Senator McConnell has said, there is now a clear path to finishing this short-term measure before Friday’s deadline."

It has been 10 days since the House passed H.R. 1 – legislation that makes common-sense spending cuts and keeps the government running through September – and the Senate still hasn’t passed a bill.

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