Why don't we have a commission that recommends the ending of government programs?

Question

We have a commission now that recommends the closing of military bases. very couple of years a bi-partisan commission recommends a list of bases to Congress that are no longer useful or needed. Congress votes on that list as a whole------they cannot remove bases from the list------either all the bases recommended for closure are closed or none of them are. This keeps congressmen and senators from trying to keep bases in their districts open even thought they have been recommended for closure.

Why don't we do the same for government programs? Every couple of years a bi-partisan commission recommends to Congress a list of government programs that they deem are no longer needed or are duplications of other programs. Congress votes on eliminating those programs on the list----and none of them can be removed from the list. Either all the programs on the list go----or none of them do.

Well David R-----Congress is doing a great job of it-----that's why we still have a Tea Board responsible for tasting tea that is brought into the U.S.

Theresa----if the GAO is doing such a wonderful job why do we still have such waste in government? Because Congress doen't reign it in!!! Once government starts a program no one wants to ever vote to end it----even if it becomes un-necessary.

Answer 1

The base closing commission was created to remove politics from base closing because it was deemed an issue of national defense. In short, the congress didn't have the courage to do its job without regard to politics. "I didn't cut those civilian jobs in my home district, the base closing commission did it."

If congress just did its job, we wouldn't need any such commission and we wouldn't have half the programs that we do. See my current question on the politics of corn for a program that could be cut.

Answer 2

Why don't we start with good ol' English? IRS is not understood by 99% of the peple and it is the way gov't wants it! The only commission we need is more people like you questioning the gov't. The GAO is a joke. They have as many scandals and lost funds as the rest of the Gov't. Congress, OUR representatives want us to stay in the dark or it would have been changed already!

Answer 3

I am with you 100% that we need to make our government smaller however; I would settle for something more understandable.

Frankly, I would start with their funding and eliminate the IRS. I have seen some data that the IRS costs make up a good percentage of the taxes we actually pay. A more simplified system could reduce our taxes while providing more money for those $500 toilet seats in the pentagon.

Answer 4

We have the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) - an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. GAO is often called the "congressional watchdog" because it investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.

GAO gathers information to help Congress determine how well executive branch agencies are doing their jobs. GAO’s work routinely answers such basic questions as whether government programs are meeting their objectives or providing good service to the public. Ultimately, GAO ensures that government is accountable to the American people. To that end, GAO provides Senators and Representatives with the best information available to help them arrive at informed policy decisions--information that is accurate, timely, and balanced. GAO supports congressional oversight by:

evaluating how well government policies and programs are working;

auditing agency operations to determine whether federal funds are being spent efficiently, effectively, and appropriately;

investigating allegations of illegal and improper activities; and

issuing legal decisions and opinions

With virtually the entire federal government subject to its review, GAO issues a steady stream of products--more than 1,000 reports and hundreds of testimonies by GAO officials each year. GAO's familiar "blue book" reports meet short-term immediate needs for information on a wide range of government operations. These reports also help Congress better understand issues that are newly emerging, long-term in nature, and with more far-reaching impacts. GAO's work translates into a wide variety of legislative actions, improvements in government operations, and billions of dollars in financial benefits for the American people.

Answer 5

Then we'd have to appoint a commitee to decide when that commitee gets cancelled.
PS: The commitee is called the US Congress.