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.

The “Little Crappy Ship’s” Decade of Failure

July 24, 2018 - 12:22 — CAGW Staff

When the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) launched on April 26, 2008, it was intended to modernize the Navy and become “the backbone of the future fleet.” After more than a decade, this dream has not come to fruition. In fact, the LCS seems unlikely to be deployed for a second consecutive

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Taxpayers and Patients Win Second Round on 340B Drug Discount Rule

July 18, 2018 - 15:46 — Elizabeth Wright

In January, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) discussed a court case concerning a November 1, 2017 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule for Medicare Part B that will lower costs to taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries for certain outpatient pharmaceuticals purchased under the 340B drug discount program. It is expected the rule will save Medicare beneficiarie

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New Jersey Faces Plethora of Tax Increases

July 17, 2018 - 12:38 — Spencer Chretien

In the spring of 2018, New Jersey’s new governor and leaders in the legislature were arguing about which state taxes to raise. Governor Phil Murphy had pledged to soak the wealthy with a state individual income tax of 10.75 percent on all income more than $1 million, but powerful State Senate President Steve Sweeney preferred a tax increase on corporate income.

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House Ways and Means Committee Boosting Use of Health Savings Accounts

July 16, 2018 - 16:16 — Elizabeth Wright

On July 11 and 12, the House Ways and Means Committee marked up and passed 11 bills that will expand the use and availability of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for all Americans and would make other changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. The bills considered were:

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Streamlining 5G Deployment

July 16, 2018 - 10:18 — Deborah Collier

On June 28, 2018, Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced S.

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FCC Works Through the Mid-Band Spectrum

July 13, 2018 - 12:16 — Deborah Collier

On July 12, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to adopt an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band (GN Docket No. 18-122).

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President Trump’s Postal Task Force Should Consider Locality Pay

July 11, 2018 - 13:26 — CAGW Staff

There are many commonsense reforms that the task force should examine that could put the USPS on a sustainable financial path and help it perform more like a private-sector business.

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GAO Releases Another Troubling Report on 340B Drug Discount Program

July 10, 2018 - 17:32 — Elizabeth Wright

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has been concerned with the 340B Drug Discount program for some time. On June 28, 2018, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released, “Drug Discount Program: Federal Oversight of Compliance at 340B Contract Pharmacies Needs Improvement.” The report adds to the growing mountain of evidence that the discount program is out of control and is in dire need of restructuring.

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Seattle's Plastic Straw Ban is Unnecessary and Counterproductive

June 29, 2018 - 16:33 — Spencer Chretien

On July 1, 2018, plastic straws will be banned in Seattle. No more will children be able to use the straw included with their juice box; no more will a couple on a date be able to order one drink with two plastic straws; you’ll have to navigate the ice in that vodka on the rocks without the benefit of a plastic straw.

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CAGW Signs Coalition Letter Supporting Safety Net 340B Drug Program Reforms

June 25, 2018 - 15:50 — Elizabeth Wright

On June 18, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) became one of 58 diverse organizations that signed onto a letter congratulating Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar for the actions his agency is taking to reform and return the Safety Net 340B Drug Program back to its original intent of helping uninsured, low-income people get access to affordable prescription drugs. These proposals can be found in President Trump’s blueprint to lower

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