The WasteWatcher

The WasteWatcher is the staff blog of Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW). For questions, contact blog@cagw.org.

Senate HELP Committee Hearing on The Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019

June 17, 2019 - 13:05 — Elizabeth Wright

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on its draft legislation, “The Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019.” It is an effort to get something done where there is agreement between the Republicans and the Democrats. The legislation addresses several issues such as surprise billing, prescription drug prices, healthcare transparency, improving public health and privacy issues with respect to educating the public on general healthcare matters, such as increas

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More Good News on the Healthcare Front

June 14, 2019 - 11:27 — Elizabeth Wright

Today, the Trump administration released a final rule on Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs).

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Interior Reforms Contain the Unnecessary Expansion of Federal Lands

June 12, 2019 - 17:11 — CAGW Staff

Under the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior (DOI) continues to purge itself of chronic waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. This includes a historic reorganization plan to consolidate land regions from more than 50 down to 13 and the creation of an online grant database to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency.

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U.S. Must Guard Against Trade War Escalation Using Rare Earth Elements

June 12, 2019 - 17:06 — CAGW Staff

As the U.S.-China trade war escalates, rare earth elements have become a focal point of economic tension. Described as an “ace in Beijing's hand", China produces 81 percent of the world’s rare earth elements, with the U.S. importing 80 percent of its rare earths from the Sleeping Giant. Despite these figures, Chinese dominance over U.S.

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A Free Internet One Year Later

June 11, 2019 - 14:11 — Deborah Collier

One year ago, net neutrality proponents were demanding action, protesting in the streets, and threatening public officials and their families because the internet was going to die when the Restoring Internet Freedom Order (RIFO) became effective on June 11, 2018. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted the RIFO on December 14, 2017, which overturned the 2015 Open Internet Order (OIO).

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House Speaker Pelosi's Bizarre Drug Price Negotiation Plan

June 10, 2019 - 15:34 — Elizabeth Wright

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to soon release her long-awaited drug pricing proposal. According to news reports, the plan is expected to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to directly “negotiate” with pharmaceutical manufacturers for an “acceptable” price for at least 25 drugs that would apply to the entire U.S. market. If no agreement can be reached, the Government Accountability Office would act as an arbitrator and oversee a dispute resolution.

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CAGW Joins Coalition to Fight Against Socialized Medicine

June 6, 2019 - 15:10 — Elizabeth Wright

Today, conservative organizations announced and launched the “Coalition Against Socialized Medicine” to fight to protect our most precious asset, our health.

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Spidey Sense Signals Incoming Pork

June 5, 2019 - 15:00 — Sean Kennedy

The United States spends approximately 3.2 percent of gross domestic product on defense each year, good for $716 billion in fiscal year 2019, a total that dwarfed spending for all other federal agencies.

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24 GHz Spectrum Auction Wraps Amid Inter-Agency Controversy

June 3, 2019 - 15:07 — Deborah Collier

As private sector companies continue to build next generation (5G) wireless networks, a controversy over the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction of the 24 GHz frequency is brewing. Spectrum Auction 102 was completed on May 29, 2019, auctioning approximately 2,900 licenses in the 24.25 and 25.25 GHz bands and generating more than $2 billion. This auction opens a critical bandwidth of spectrum necessary to provide 5G connectivity in dense urban areas using millimeter wave high-band spectrum.

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No, AOC - Tornados in D.C. Are Not Another Sign of Global Warming

May 31, 2019 - 10:47 — Elizabeth Wright

Rep. Alexander Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), never lacking for a fun sound bite, released an anxiety-ridden Instagram over a tornado warning that was issued in Washington, D.C. at about 3:50 pm on May 23.

Welcome to Washington Congresswoman! You will soon learn that severe thunderstorms during summer afternoons are practically a daily occurrence and tornado warnings are nothing new.

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