SinnieK

http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/true-size-of-the-fed-swamp-will-blow-your-mind/

THE COMMON CONSTITUTIONALIST

“Draining the swamp” has become synonymous with both the Trump campaign and his presidency. Although it’s not a new saying, it has stuck with him since he first uttered it.

The phrase was first made popular by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, who also said he came to Washington to “drain the swamp.” Reagan’s sentiment was identical to Trump’s in that regard. Reagan also wished to roll back the size and scope of the federal government.

It was used again in 2007 by Nancy Pelosi, when the Republicans imploded and were tossed out, leaving her to be elevated to speaker of the House. However, her sentiment was just slightly different. She claimed to want to “drain the swamp” of over 10 years of Republican control of the House.

But it appears, of the three, Donald Trump has already been the most successful. But his success could unfortunately be classified as a mere spit in the ocean. For as a new report chronicles, called “Mapping the Swamp,” the Washington, D.C., swamp is far more vast than even we conservatives imagined.

We who write and talk about this stuff report on the size of the bureaucratic state all the time, but to see the magnitude of the federal government laid out in black and white staggers the imagination.

Just the sheer size, in terms of employees, boggles the mind. At almost 2 million, the federal government employs more people than the combined populations of Alaska, Wyoming and Vermont.

And then there’s the cost – to us, the taxpayer. Open the Books, creators of the document, calculated the cost to employ these “civil servants” at $136 billion per year. This, they calculate, is $1.1 million per minute, or $524 million per day. These figures are for the non-military workforce only, which makes it all that much more disheartening.

Civil service used to be something people did for the good of the community – thus the name civil service. I recall, many years ago, a friend told me he was moving from the private to the public sector. He explained that he wanted more job security for his family. He said he was willing to sacrifice private-sector pay for public security, benefits and time off.

Well, as “Mapping the Swamp” chronicles, those days have passed. No longer do people seek out civil-service jobs to be of service, nor sacrifice a thing. They do it to enrich themselves on the backs of taxpayers.

“On average, federal employees receive 10 federal holidays, 13 sick days and 20 vacation days per year.” Just this benefit is estimated to cost more than $22 billion annually.

They report that “more than 406,000 received six-figure incomes in 2016.” That’s almost 25 percent of the entire workforce receiving $100,000 or more. And more than 30,000 received in excess of $190,000. This, they say, is more than every governor in all 50 states made that same year. Yes, 30,000 government hacks warrant higher pay than the chief executive of every state.

And, naturally, the Obama years saw the most dramatic increase in the enrichment of the public sector. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of federal employees making $200,000 or more increased by 165 percent, and those making over $150,000 grew by 60 percent.

Adding insult to injury, the department with the greatest number of top earners is the Department of Veterans Affairs – the V.A. The department that abuses and kills our American heroes is best compensated. That pretty much says it all.

I congratulate President Trump for his effort thus far to drain the swamp. However, no single man or any one administration will have the power or longevity to put a dent in the runaway bureaucratic state. It’s like trying to drain the Everglades with a drinking straw.

Ricktloml

It IS a monumental task. And the swamp denizens are not going to go voluntarily or quietly, that is why we are seeing the non-stop attacks on Trump. They are trying to protect themselves, of course at the country's expense.

boatbob2

Why,Do these so called "civil servants" get bonuses???? They are getting paid much more than the AVERAGE American now...STOP these bonuses.

SinnieK

I don't think that are bonus it is more like their salary.

debeda

Years ago I worked in a factory and they hired time specialists to come in and observe. I wish that we could elect or hire someone whose only job was to assess the necessity of different departments and individual jobs in DC and also stste level government to make a flow chart of the work and results as well as recommendations of where to cit the fat (eliminate or slim down departments)

Hemiman Loc: Communist California

Buying their support the same as the freebies for immigrants.

Mikeyavelli

Trump is in the swamp without his waders. They are out to get him. Big Gator Mueller is tasked with taking Trump out. All the Washington mosquitoes are biting at Trump too. He is alone in the swamp. Pence is piercing his Trump voodoo doll and rehearsing his speech. Trust no one in Washington DC, all obama acolytes.

kankune Loc: Iowa

Hey Mike. Why is it you don't trust VP Pence? Just curious...

rumitoid

It seems clear now why the Trump administration fought so hard to avoid making public the details of the waivers it granted to White House staffers who might otherwise have been in violation of the president’s self-imposed ethics rules. They show that President Donald Trump, who made “drain the swamp” a campaign battle cry, has enlisted numerous swamp-dwellers—former lobbyists, consultants, corporate executives—to staff key positions in his White House and has granted them broad exemptions to work on issues directly related to their former jobs and clients.

After repeatedly slamming DC lobbyists during the campaign, Trump used one of his first executive orders to lay out ethics rules for his new administration. The January 28 order barred Trump officials from working on issues related to their former employers for at least two years, and these rules applied not only to lobbyists, but to anyone who worked for a business or organization potentially affected by federal policy decisions. The prohibitions were not absolute: Waivers would be available in certain cases.

The Trump administration initially balked when the Office of Government Ethics demanded the White House hand over the waivers it had granted. But after a standoff the administration relented late Wednesday and released about 14 waivers covering White House staffers. They make clear that Trump’s ethics rules are remarkably flexible and that his top staffers don’t need to worry too much about staying on the right side of them. On paper, Trump’s rules are similar to those imposed by President Barack Obama, but it appears that Trump is far more willing to hand out exemptions. At this point in the Obama administration, just three White House staffers had been granted ethics waivers. So far, Trump has granted 14, including several that apply to multiple people.

White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and adviser Kellyanne Conway were both granted waivers to deal with issues involving their previous employers. In the case of Priebus, this narrowly applies to the Republican National Committee. But Conway is now free to work on issues involving her ex-clients from her previous life as an operative and pollster—clients that included political campaigns, nonprofit activist groups, and corporations.

Conway’s relationships with these clients were murky to begin with; she was never required to disclose who she worked for. We do know that she repped virulently anti-immigration and anti-Muslim groups. The names of some of her corporate clients also have trickled out, including Major League Baseball, Hasbro, American Express, and Boeing. The waiver may have been granted to help smooth the way for Conway after evidence emerged that she continued to operate own her polling and consulting company even after she’d gone to work in the White House—a possible violation of conflict-of-interest laws that drew the attention of congressional Democrats who have begun probing her relationship with the company.

Conway’s waiver was not retroactive, but there is another that specifically allows White House employees to communicate freely with former employers and coworkers at media organizations—and applies back to January 20. Trump’s executive order didn’t simply prohibit any of his hires from working on matters relating to a former employer—it specifically covered “any meeting or communication relating to the performance of one’s official duties.” This means at least two of Trump’s top aides, former Breitbart News chairman Steve Bannon and his assistant Julia Hahn, would be prohibited from chatting with their former colleagues at Breitbart about anything work-related—a rule that Bannon appears not to have followed. While not named, it seems likely that protecting the Breitbart alums from ethics complaints was the aim.

Another takeaway from Trump’s waivers is that they appear to be far less restrictive than Obama administration waivers. Many Obama waivers (there were only 10 total granted to White House employees during his administration) were very narrowly tailored. For example, James Jones, Obama’s national security adviser, was granted a waiver to allow him to introduce Bill Clinton at an event for the Atlantic Council, even though Jones had previously worked for the group. John Brennan, at the time one of Obama’s deputy national security advisers, had previously worked for The Analysis Company, and he was granted a waiver to use the company’s data while investigating the so-called “Underwear Bomber” incident. Brennan was not cleared to talk to any of the company’s employees, however.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/06/donald-trump-ethics-waivers/#

Airforceone

You congratulate Trump for draining the swamp what a line of BS.

First Trump has been in Office 11 months you’re Republican lead congress approves all pay raises the president just request an increase. Trump request an across the board pay raise of 1.5% and approved by Congress. Federal employees receive 23% less than private industry. All government employees receive the same benefits. You can’t compare government benefits to the private sector because some private sector jobs pay no benefits so it’s a ridiculous comparison. All federal wages over the last 8 years have been determined by the House of representative not Obama and guess what Republicans have had control for the last 7 years and did nothing to cut benefits.
Presidents don’t Give pay raises Congress does.

Now let’s drain the Swamp:Corey Lewandowski campaign manager started his own lobbyist firm.
Deputy Secratary Jim Donavan Goldman Sach
Treasury Secratary Steve Munuchin Goldman Sach
Deputy National Security Advidor Goldman Sach
Leader of The SEC Jay Clayton Goldman Sach
White House senior Advisor Steve Bannon Goldman Sach.
(DO I HAVE TO REMIND YOU OF HIS ATTACKS ON CLINTON WITH GOLDMAN SACHS CONNECTIONS AND DRAIN THE SWAMP)

Trumps administration hiring individuals who were registered lobbyist. There are 20 that now work for his executive office, that represent 10 different lobbyist firms. (DO I HAVE TO REMIND YOU OF HIS ATTACKS ON K STREET LOBBYEST AND THE CLINTON TIES HE ACCUSED HER OF) You must be so proud he drained the swamp. (TRUMP IS A FRAUD BUT LETS CONTINUE)

Major Construction Company owned by the Chinese was hired for golf course development. Despite his promise that he would not engage in transactions with foreign entities. ( WOW I GUESS HIS ATTACKS ON PAY FOR PLAY IS OUT WHAT A FRAUD BUT IAM GLAD YOU ARE PROUD)

Ohhh what about Tom Price Flying private jets at taxpayers expense $60,000 a week at Tax payers expense. Obama Human Resources Director flew commercial airlines. (ARE YOU STILL PROUD OF THIS FRAUD)

WHAT ABOUT $25,000 paid to Trump golf courses for secret services golf carts every weekend he plays golf.

What about the US coast guard was paying over $1,000 per man for a two day stay at Mar-a-largo to protect the inner coastal with Trump playing golf. ( WOW I THOUGHT HE SAID I WOULD NOT BENEFIT FINANCIALLY, THATS $528,000 IN TAX PAYER FUNDS JUST FOR THAT FRAUD TO PLAY GOLF) Not to mention the secret service stay.

Let’s look a pay for play with this fraud. How about Ivanka Trump meeting with Chinese officials supposedly on official business and walks away with three new Chinese trade marks covering Jewelery, Bags, and Spa Services. ( WOW YOU MUST BE REALLY PROUD)

What about charging the State Department officials $15,000 at Trump Hotel in Vancouver when the Trump family not on official business they were there to headline the grand opening of a Trump tower. This was obtained thru the freedom of information act. Why was this charged to the state department. Trump no answer( WOW YOU MUST BE REALLY PROUD NEW TOWER OWNED BY TRUMP AND CHARGE ALL EXPENSES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT)

Remember Trump promise he would donate all profits from foreign entities to the US Treasury. He now says that’s impractical. Damm the Trump hotel looks like a UN assembly. Just a few weeks ago the Kuwaitis and Azerbaijan goverment have hosted multiple events at Trump International. (WOW TALK ABOUT PAY FOR PLAY)

11 of Trumps 19 cabinet appointments have all sat on boards or organizations of lobbyest firms that spent an average of $485 million annually lobbying the federal government. (INSTEAD OF CALLING IT PENNSYLVANIA AVE IT SHOULD BE THE NEW K STREET) now that’s draining the swamp. You should be proud.

How about Rex Tillerson head of Exxon and his lobbyest firm on K street. Sec Of State absolutly no experience.

How about Wilbur Ross Commerce Secratary. Made billions with his hedge fund firm. Also Senior Vice President Of Bank Of Cyprus. Well known for laudering billions for Putin and his oligarchs. (WOW NOW THAT SHOULD REALLY MAKE YOU PROUD)

How about Billionaire Betsy Devos what about Billionaire Lance Leggitt, major lobbyest for Health insurance companies.

Let me say something to you that so called empty the swamp is full with alligators.

Yoy’re Comment on $200,000 and $150,000 wages on government officials is BS Obama can’t give anybody a pay raise all he can do is send wage schedules to the House of Representatives and they determine rates. So if you are correct don’t blame Obama blame the Republican lead Congress.

You are getting all you’re misinformation from right garbage news.

rumitoid

Great points!

Ricktloml

Over the last 2 years there were a total of 50,000 federal workers added to the previous staffing levels in 2015 and 2016. This is in addition to the 60,000 Barack Obama added in his first 6 months in office.

Trump has already cut federal jobs by 11,000 with more prospective cuts for 2018.

Hemiman Loc: Communist California

You got that right.

Mikeyavelli

Pence is sanctimonious and sympathetic to the attacks from the left citing higher moral ground. Deep down in, Pence thinks Trump is amoral. Pence is the next president for the deep state, and he's rehearsing his speech now.

1935boxer

the swamp will be drained, AND tomorrow I am going to win the lottery. enjoy life folks while you still can. HAPPY NEW YEAR.