SaddleBrooke Republican Club » federal spending

House Appropriations Chairman Behind Military Pork

Tad DeHaven — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:47:56 +0000

By Tad DeHaven

After the Republicans took back control of the House following the November 2010 elections, the GOP leadership went with Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers—a.k.a. “The Prince of Pork”—to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. I wrote at the time that “The support for Rogers from House Republican leaders is a slap in the face of voters [...]

House Appropriations Chairman Behind Military Pork is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

The States Are Already Getting Bailed Out

Tad DeHaven — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:07:42 +0000

By Tad DeHaven

In today’s Wall Street Journal, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) advise the states to get their fiscal houses in order instead of holding out hope for a bailout from federal taxpayers. That’s sound advice. However, the states already effectively get bailed out by federal taxpayers each and every year. The first chart [...]

The States Are Already Getting Bailed Out is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

New Paper Argues for Immediate, Practical Cuts in Military Spending

Christopher Preble — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:02:12 +0000

By Christopher Preble

A new report published today by the Project on Defense Alternatives argues for $17-$20 billion in immediate savings to the Fiscal Year 2013 defense budget. I co-authored the report along with Benjamin Friedman of Cato, and PDA’s Carl Conetta, Charles Knight, and Ethan Rosenkranz. Those savings come from 18 line items—personnel, weapons systems, and programs—that [...]

New Paper Argues for Immediate, Practical Cuts in Military Spending is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Ex-Im Reauthorization Vote Expected Tomorrow

Sallie James — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:22:00 +0000

By Sallie James

House legislators have reached a “compromise” deal to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States until 2014 and at an increased funding level ($120 billion, with a possible increase to $140 billion). The compromise builds on a bill crafted by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) I blogged about in March, but seems to largely be a win [...]

Ex-Im Reauthorization Vote Expected Tomorrow is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Sometimes, Governments Lie (6th Anniversary Ed.)

Michael F. Cannon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:23:45 +0000

By Michael F. Cannon

(This blog post first appeared at Cato@Liberty following the release of the 2006 Medicare and Social Security trustees’ reports. I repost it, with updated links and “exhaustion dates” because sadly nothing else has changed.) Sometimes, Governments Lie Year after year, federal officials speak of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds as if they were [...]

Sometimes, Governments Lie (6th Anniversary Ed.) is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

General Services Administration: Let the Taxpayers Eat Cake

Tad DeHaven — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:32:32 +0000

By Tad DeHaven

The head of the General Services Administration, which is the federal government’s procurement and property manager, has resigned in the wake of a report from the agency’s inspector general that uncovered extravagant spending at a GSA “training conference” in Las Vegas. Here’s the Washington Post’s summary of festivities: Among the “excessive, wasteful and in some [...]

General Services Administration: Let the Taxpayers Eat Cake is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

ObamaCare Supporters, Be Warned: This May Sting a Little

Michael F. Cannon — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:20:22 +0000

By Michael F. Cannon

Cato has now posted my remarks from last week’s “Obamacare in the Supreme Court” conference: The full conference will be available here soon. ObamaCare Supporters, Be Warned: This May Sting a Little is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

ObamaCare Supporters, Be Warned: This May Sting a Little is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Podcast: ObamaCare’s Most Unconstitutional Provision Isn’t the Mandate. It’s IPAB.

Michael F. Cannon — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:16:49 +0000

By Michael F. Cannon

My latest podcast, “IPAB: ObamaCare’s Next Constitutional Hurdle.” Podcast: ObamaCare’s Most Unconstitutional Provision Isn’t the Mandate. It’s IPAB. is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Podcast: ObamaCare’s Most Unconstitutional Provision Isn’t the Mandate. It’s IPAB. is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Why ObamaCare Must Go, in Ten Short Minutes

Michael F. Cannon — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:30:14 +0000

By Michael F. Cannon

Last week, I appeared on NPR’s Tell Me More program. My discussion with host Michel Martin gives a good synopsis of why ObamaCare is both harmful to consumers and unconstitutional. Listen to the segment here. For a contrary perspective, listen to former Obama administration acting solicitor general Neal Katyal, who appeared on the program the next [...]

Why ObamaCare Must Go, in Ten Short Minutes is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Paul Ryan’s Budget: It’s Still Big Government

Tad DeHaven — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:10:59 +0000

By Tad DeHaven

Chris Edwards provided an ample overview of Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) budget proposal, so I won’t rehash the numbers. Instead, I’ll just add a few comments. Democrats and the left will squeal that Paul Ryan’s budget proposal is a massive threat to the poor, the sick, the elderly, etc, etc. It’s baloney, but a part [...]

Paul Ryan’s Budget: It’s Still Big Government is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog