http://www.capitolwatch.org Defending American Taxpayers from Ineffective Government and Wasteful Spending en-us http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=202 The1990’s were full of stories about “Welfare Queens,” but appears that efforts to reform our nation’s welfare programs have not been fully effective. From overpayments, to gaming the system, it appears these programs and the way they are administrated, are ripe for investigation. http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=201 Charles Blahous, an economist estimates in a 52-page studyreleased by George Mason University's Mercatus Center that the President’shealthcare overhaul will add at least $340 billion to the deficit and notreduce it as the President has claimed. Blahous, who serves as public trusteeoverseeing Medicare and Social Security finances, also found that current federalaccounting practices have masked the true costs of the massive legislation. Thestudy entitled “The Fiscal Consequences of the Affordable Care Act,” wasreleased early this April. http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=200 Recently, it was revealed through an Inspector General’s report thatemployees of the General Services Administration (GSA) spent $822,000 on alavish “convention” in Las Vegas. The agency handles federal government logistics andoperations, including guidelines for the entire federal government onprocurement. Details of excessive spending in the planning and conducting ofthe conference brought the resignation of GSA Administrator MarthaJohnson and several other officials. The event held in the fall of 2012 was attended byabout 300 employees and lasted four days. http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=199 Its no “April Fools,” on April 1st the United States officially became home to the highest corporate tax rate in the world. This comes as Japan officially cut its corporate tax rate to 36.8 percent, leaving ours in the lead at 39.2 percent. Countries with more restrictive economies like Russia and China have rates of 20 percent and 25 percent, respectively; essentially leaving our businesses at a competitive disadvantage. http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=198 President Obama hasbeen credited with achieving a number of things, but this time he has reallyoutdone himself. He has accumulated more federal debt in 3 years, thanPresident Bush had in all 8 years in office. The federal debt rose $4.899trillion during the two terms of George W. Bush’s tenure. It has now gone up $4.939 trillion since President Obama took office. The latest posting from the Bureau of Public Debt at the U.S. Treasury Department shows the debt now standsat $15.566 trillion. It was $10.626 trillion on President Bush's last day in office, which coincided with President Obama's first day. As president, Mr.Obama has been responsible for his own budgets, taxing, and spending policies. This is something which is a credit to him and him only.