EconomyCommentary
US Postal Service Announces $5-Billion Loss
For most businesses, losing over $5 billion would be a shock. Share prices would plummet, and management would fear for their jobs. But over at… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Here’s a Radical Idea: Government Should Test to See if Taxpayer-Funded Programs Actually Work
It was one of the largest prisoner re-entry programs ever undertaken. RExO (Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders) aimed to help ex-cons find jobs, thereby reducing recidivism. Over… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Why Did the Environmental Protection Agency Spend $1.4 Million on Guns?
Even those of us who have worked in Washington for many years and become accustomed to the inner workings of government can still be amazed… Read More
EconomyCommentary
One Lawmaker Fights Wisconsin’s Practice of Letting Lawmakers Charge Taxpayers For Unused Sick Days
It’s enough to make any Wisconsin taxpayer sick. For 40 years, state legislators have enjoyed a special benefit that not only grants them sick leave, but… Read More
EconomyNews
Was Chattanooga’s Taxpayer-Funded High-Speed Internet Worth the Cost? Looking at a New Study
Critics call “useless” and “highly speculative” recent findings that Chattanooga Electric Power Board officials claim prove that the municipal broadband network in that city is more than… Read More
EconomyCommentary
The Insane Amount the White House Is Spending on Standing Desks
The White House reportedly wants to shell out a whopping $700,000 for standing desks. While it’s true that sitting all day long can have adverse… Read More
EconomyNews
Census Bureau Employees Charged Taxpayers Over $1 Million in Time Never Worked
A report from the inspector general released Thursday found “pervasive misconduct” in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Hiring and Employment Check Office. The report found falsified… Read More
EconomyCommentary
This Government Jobs Program Is Ineffective, Ridden With Crime
A job training program for disadvantaged youth—sounds like a good thing. Except maybe when it is plagued by violent crime and doesn’t boost participants’ wages or… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Your Tax Dollars Are Funding a Program That Sells Information Available Online for Free
In yet another example of government waste, Washington maintains a $111 million program that sells information that is mostly available for free on the internet…. Read More
EconomyNews
Rand Paul Exposes $25,000 Federal Grant for Oscars Museum
Sen. Rand Paul put Hollywood in the spotlight Monday revealing a $25,000 federal grant billing taxpayers for the building of an Oscars museum. The National… Read More
EconomyNews
Senator Moves to Rein in $600 Million Government Agency That Operates ‘Without Real Congressional Oversight’
In an attempt to enforce transparency and accountability, a Republican senator is attempting to restructure a federal agency that oversees a wide range of consumer financial… Read More
EnergyCommentary
New Report: Energy Department’s Loans, Loans Guarantees Costing Taxpayers $2.21 Billion
Despite many politicians hailing green energy programs as a success, taxpayers are likely to take a $2.21 billion hit for the Department of Energy’s loan… Read More
EconomyNews
House GOP Report: ‘IRS Deliberately Cut Funding for Customer Service’
On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee released a report detailing wasteful spending at the Internal Revenue Service. The Washington Post recently reported that… Read More
EconomyNews
This Bill Would Ban Congress From Using Taxpayer Funds for First-Class Travel
Legislation introduced by a freshman congresswoman would ban lawmakers from using taxpayer funds for first-class flights and personal car leases. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., announced… Read More
EconomyNews
Thousands of Illegal Immigrants Likely to Get Social Security, Thanks to Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions
President Obama’s executive actions on immigration will likely lead to a hike in the number of people eligible to collect Social Security. This information comes… Read More
EconomyCommentary
How Billionaires Run Solar Plant Scams
At the recent inauguration of the Desert Sunlight solar farm, Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell stated, “This is the beginnings of a renewable energy future.”… Read More
EconomyNews
Wisconsin Treasurer Fulfills Campaign Pledge by Laying Off Staff
MADISON, Wis.—Newly elected state Treasurer Matt Adamczyk ran on a campaign pledge of cutting 80 percent from a $545,000 annual budget. A few weeks into his first term,… Read More
EconomyNews
The IRS Hired the Same Company That Botched The Healthcare.gov Rollout
The Internal Revenue Service is under investigation by an oversight subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee for signing a $4.46 million contract with… Read More
EconomyNews
This Government Agency Spent $31 Million on First-Class Flights
Executives of the Department of Health and Human Services are routinely on the go, flying throughout the country and the world to aid those who… Read More
EconomyNews
Government Agency Under Scrutiny for $215 Million Building Renovation
Costly building renovations at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are raising more congressional concerns that the agency’s spending is out of control. A government… Read More
EconomyNews
IKEA Wants Millions in Tax Incentives for Tennessee Store
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An unelected board of 11 people in this city soon will decide whether to grant $9.5 million in tax incentives to the IKEA… Read More
EconomyNews
City Decides to Close Bar … After Subsidizing Its Losses With Taxpayer Money
HOWARD LAKE, Minn. — Minnesotans in 2013 spent more than ever on booze at local government-owned bars and liquor stores. But in Howard Lake, the… Read More
EconomyNews
Tennessee Lawmakers Don’t Plan to Tackle Government Theft
NASHVILLE—The New Year is here and, thus far, of all the priorities Tennessee legislators have laid out for the 2015 General Assembly, none involve clamping… Read More
EconomyNews
The Price Tag for These 10 Federal Art Projects May Surprise You
In 1962, Assistant Secretary of Labor Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote a report for President John F. Kennedy on the subject of government office space. This… Read More
EconomyCommentary
7 Ridiculous Projects the Government Spent Your Tax Dollars on This Year
As you recover from Christmas spending these last couple days of 2014, don’t forget to account for the millions of dollars in gifts you bought the… Read More
LawNews
Police Chief Gets Lucrative Buyout, Despite Scathing Investigation
PITTSBURGH — The Brentwood Borough Council voted to give police chief Robert Butelli a lucrative settlement package, worth more than $200,000, in exchange for his… Read More
EconomyNews
Taxpayers on the Hook for Congressional Office Swap
Your member of Congress might get a nicer office for the next session, but you will foot the bill for his or her move. At… Read More
EconomyNews
The Billionaire Who’s Making Deals With Andrew Cuomo
It’s easy to see why Barbara Walters named billionaire Elon Musk one of 2014’s most fascinating people. In the waning days of his 2014 re-election… Read More
EconomyCommentary
12 Days of Waste-mas
The Christmas season is on, and shoppers are out in full force. This means nothing for Washington. Here, Santa Claus seems to hand out gifts… Read More
EconomyCommentary
How Much Was Misspent on Food Stamps in 2014
This year the U.S. Department of Agriculture misspent $2.4 billion on food stamps, according to a November report from the USDA Office of Inspector General…. Read More
