Government Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Reform Could Save Billions of Dollars, Says Author P. Matthew Cauley

MILLBORO, VA, January 16, 2013 (Press-News.org) "Why is there so much government waste?" asks P. Matthew Cauley, author of the new book "Unwrecking America: Solving Our Paralyzing Problems Through Grassroots Statesmanship. "Although the states and cities are notorious spenders, nobody produces pork like the federal government."

Mr. Cauley cites Senator Tom Coburn's recently released oversight report, "Wastebook 2012," which itemized nearly $20 billion worth of pork-barrel projects spread throughout the federal government. The senator followed it up with "Department of Everything," which outlined how the Department of Defense can save nearly $70 billion "without cutting vital defense priorities."

"The Government Accountability Office's High-Risk List identifies thirty places vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse," says Mr. Cauley, "including Department of Defense (DOD) weapon system acquisition, enforcement of tax laws, and Medicare." Regarding Medicaid, the author adds that while no one knows how much of the program's budget consists of waste, fraud, and abuse, according to the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it may exceed $100 billion a year.

The good news is that the number and cost of Congressional earmarks--the pet projects of senators and congressmen--have decreased dramatically, from 9,129 in FY 2010 to 152 in FY 2012. The cost has decreased from $16.5 billion in FY 2010 to $3.3 billion in FY 2012, which is the lowest amount since 1992, according to the "2012 Congressional Pig Book," published by Tom Schatz's watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste.

Mr. Cauley points to polls by the Center for American Progress that indicate the majority of Americans, young and old, believe the federal government is grossly inefficient. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 56 percent of the surveyed citizens said they are "frustrated" and 21 percent "angry" with the federal government.

In his book Mr. Cauley looks at the current cultural, social, and political climate in the US. He explains why overpopulation, food shortages, energy crises, and Americans' increasing dependence on the federal government all threaten to destroy our waning empire, and what needs to be done to save the country.

"The United States of America was once a majestic example of government by the people, of the people, and for the people, and unfortunately this is not the case today," says Mr. Cauley. "Money rules politics--seventy-five to eighty percent of all elections are won by whoever spends the most TAKE OUT EXTRA SPACES HEREmoney."

Mr. Cauley cites a report in "The Atlantic," where critics from the left and right and middle alike call our political finance system one of "legalized bribery."

"Many members of Congress and the Senate become less concerned with legislating because they spend so much time trying to get reelected by continuously campaigning and fundraising," says Mr. Cauley. "And after retiring, many politicians become lobbyists, working for some of the very people they claim to be trying to reign in."

There are places you can go on the Internet to find solutions, says Mr. Cauley. One of them is the Cato Institute's web site: http://www.downsizinggovernment.org.

Here are some ways to improve American government functionality:
* Establish term limits for all elected officials
* Streamline the government by eliminating redundancy and paperwork
* Eliminate the majority of perks for government officials and their families
* Investigate earmarks and pork projects
* Set spending caps
* Balance the budget by setting the budget cap as a fixed percentage of GDP

"It is very clear that America's spending is out of control and moving in a wrong and dangerous direction," says Mr. Cauley. "It is time for a TAKE OUT THIS SPACE change. America deserves a better government and a brighter future."

P. Matthew Cauley has farmed and worked for the US Department of Agriculture and in international agriculture for many years. He's been a member of local organizations such as the Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Bath County Republican Committee and been president of Singing Earth Produce, Inc. and Alternative Investment Strategies of Virginia, LLC. Currently he lives in rural Virginia with his wife, Linda.

For more information contact P. Matthew Cauley at tractor007@mgwnet.com or visit www.unwreckingamerica.com.