TPA Joins Coalition Effort Urging Support for the Eliminate Preventable Waste Act

The federal government has a spending problem and federal agencies have shown a particular penchant for spending money in ways that defy explanation. Just this week, we learned that the State Department ran up a $400,000 bar tab. Also, let’s not forget the wasteful spending by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security, and the Transportation Security Administration among others. Payment errors are also a major problem for federal agencies (and taxpayers) and the problem is getting worse.  The Government Accountability Office noted that federal agencies reported $115.3 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2011 alone. This is inexcusable at a time when taxpayers are feeling the burden of a $17 trillion dollar debt and a government in Washington D.C. that seems not all that concerned when it comes to making meaningful spending cuts and trying to do away with structural reform that would reduce spending in the short and long term. With that in mind, TPA was pleased to join an effort led by Americans for Prosperity signing this letter, along with American Commitment, Americans for a Balanced Budget, Americans for Tax Reform, COAST (Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes), Concerned Women for America, Cost of Government Center, Generation Opportunity, Less Government, National Center for Public Policy Research, National Taxpayers Union, and the R Street Institute urging Congress to support the Eliminate Preventable Waste Act, sponsored by Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Ga.). The legislation would “require federal agencies to show a reduction in the error rate for payments in federal spending. If the rate of improper payments increases in a given fiscal year, then the administrative budget for the agency will be cut by the same percentage of the error rate.” In a time where debt and deficits continue to plague the country’s finances, this is one step of many that Congress can take to move toward solving an enormous and preventable problem. In a spending atmosphere of difficult decisions to make, getting rid of improper payments should be a relatively easy fix.

Read the full letter below:

Coalition to Congress: Stop Preventable Waste!

December 3, 2013

Dear Member of Congress:

On behalf of the millions of Americans represented by the undersigned organizations, we write to urge you to support the Eliminate Preventable Waste Act, sponsored by Congressman Jack Kingston. The bill would require federal agencies to show a reduction in the error rate for payments in federal spending. If the rate of improper payments increases in a given fiscal year, then the administrative budget for the agency will be cut by the same percentage of the error rate.

Improper payments are an increasing problem in federal agency spending. According to the Government Accountability Office, federal agencies reported $115.3 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2011 alone. For several programs, the error rate is remarkably high; the Disaster Assistance Loans under the Small Business Administration exceeded 28 percent in 2011, for example.

With the federal debt now exceeding $17 trillion and ever-increasing spending levels coming out of Washington, it’s more important now than ever to get spending under control. Holding federal agencies accountable for reducing improper payments is a great first step to reining in total federal spending. Americans deserve to have their tax dollars spent as intended, not wasted on improper payments.

I urge you and your colleagues to show support for reining in federal spending by supporting Congressman Kingston’s Eliminate Preventable Waste Act.

Sincerely,

Phil Kerpen, President, American Commitment

Dee Stewart, President, Americans for a Balanced Budget

Christine Hanson, Federal Affairs Manager, Americans for Prosperity

Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform

Tom Brinkman Jr., Chairman, COAST (Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes)

Penny Nance, CEO and President, Concerned Women for America

Mattie Duppler, Executive Director, Cost of Government Center

Evan Feinberg, President, Generation Opportunity

Seton Motley, President, Less Government

Amy Ridenour, Chairman, National Center for Public Policy Research

Pete Sepp, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union

Andrew Moylan, Outreach Director and Senior Fellow, R Street Institute

David Williams, President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance