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GOP Targets Waste, Fraud In Government Programs
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.
"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.
Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-22 |
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