Citizens Against Government Waste Proposes 10 Debate Questions
Nov 29, 2015 02:02:47 #
November 10, 2015 (Washington, D.C.) Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) proposed that the 2016 presidential primary debates discuss policy so that voters learn more about where candidates stand on the issues instead of which candidate is or is not on the stage, or who is asking what kind of question.
In recent weeks, the primary debate has been about the debates themselves. Candidates and parties are arguing over their length, their moderators, or their potential bias. While those disputes may garner headlines, they do nothing to enlighten the American public about the policies and proposals that will shape the nation for decades to come.
In that spirit, CAGW proposes the following questions be asked of the candidates at the next debate:
(1) As president, would you support the establishment of a commission, like the Base Closure and Realignment Commission, that would root out duplicative, wasteful, inefficient, and outdated federal agencies and then force Congress to vote, up or down, on the commissions recommendations?
(2) Would you support reforms to the budget process such as replacing baseline budgeting with zero-based budgeting and establishing a biannual budget? Are there other reforms you would propose?
What are three steps you would take to run the federal government more like a business?
(3) Do you agree with the Congressional moratorium on earmarks and, as president, would you support legislation that would permanently ban earmarks?
(4) The implementation of Obamacare has cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $5 billion. In the past two years, Americans have seen their premiums and deductibles skyrocket, witness the collapse of more than half of the state Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans, (CO-OPs) and now administration officials are lowering expectations for next years enrollment. If elected president, what is your specific plan to reform the health insurance system after you repeal Obamacare?
(5) Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission approved Net Neutrality regulations, which imposes a Great Depression-era regulatory regime originally intended for common carrier telephone services on Internet services. Would you support overturning these regulations?
(6) At a time when our war fighters face some of the most perilous circumstances since World War II, the Pentagon cannot pass an audit, is bloated with more contractors and overhead than soldiers, and is plagued with exorbitant cost overruns on unrealistic weapons platforms. Do you believe that the military is a sacred cow, immune from spending reforms? If not, what are your specific plans to trim waste at the Department of Defense?
(7) Would you support a comprehensive audit of the Department of Defense, and will you commit to appoint a secretary who will conduct one?
(8) The Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prevents the taxation of Internet access is set to expire on December 11, 2015. If this law is not extended, households across the nation will be forced to pay taxes to connect to the Internet. Do you believe that preventing taxes on Internet access should be a priority, and if you are elected President, what efforts would you make to ensure that this ban becomes permanent?
(9) As president, would you push to reverse the ever-expanding slush fund for Overseas Contingency Operations and pledge that all DOD spending be on budget?
(10) Would you refuse to sign any emergency spending bills that included unrelated spending items?
Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government. It was founded by J. Peter Grace who organized and partially funded the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (PPSSCC), a government waste audit popularly known as the Grace Commission, under President Ronald Reagan.
In recent weeks, the primary debate has been about the debates themselves. Candidates and parties are arguing over their length, their moderators, or their potential bias. While those disputes may garner headlines, they do nothing to enlighten the American public about the policies and proposals that will shape the nation for decades to come.
In that spirit, CAGW proposes the following questions be asked of the candidates at the next debate:
(1) As president, would you support the establishment of a commission, like the Base Closure and Realignment Commission, that would root out duplicative, wasteful, inefficient, and outdated federal agencies and then force Congress to vote, up or down, on the commissions recommendations?
(2) Would you support reforms to the budget process such as replacing baseline budgeting with zero-based budgeting and establishing a biannual budget? Are there other reforms you would propose?
What are three steps you would take to run the federal government more like a business?
(3) Do you agree with the Congressional moratorium on earmarks and, as president, would you support legislation that would permanently ban earmarks?
(4) The implementation of Obamacare has cost U.S. taxpayers nearly $5 billion. In the past two years, Americans have seen their premiums and deductibles skyrocket, witness the collapse of more than half of the state Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans, (CO-OPs) and now administration officials are lowering expectations for next years enrollment. If elected president, what is your specific plan to reform the health insurance system after you repeal Obamacare?
(5) Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission approved Net Neutrality regulations, which imposes a Great Depression-era regulatory regime originally intended for common carrier telephone services on Internet services. Would you support overturning these regulations?
(6) At a time when our war fighters face some of the most perilous circumstances since World War II, the Pentagon cannot pass an audit, is bloated with more contractors and overhead than soldiers, and is plagued with exorbitant cost overruns on unrealistic weapons platforms. Do you believe that the military is a sacred cow, immune from spending reforms? If not, what are your specific plans to trim waste at the Department of Defense?
(7) Would you support a comprehensive audit of the Department of Defense, and will you commit to appoint a secretary who will conduct one?
(8) The Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prevents the taxation of Internet access is set to expire on December 11, 2015. If this law is not extended, households across the nation will be forced to pay taxes to connect to the Internet. Do you believe that preventing taxes on Internet access should be a priority, and if you are elected President, what efforts would you make to ensure that this ban becomes permanent?
(9) As president, would you push to reverse the ever-expanding slush fund for Overseas Contingency Operations and pledge that all DOD spending be on budget?
(10) Would you refuse to sign any emergency spending bills that included unrelated spending items?
Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government. It was founded by J. Peter Grace who organized and partially funded the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (PPSSCC), a government waste audit popularly known as the Grace Commission, under President Ronald Reagan.
Nov 29, 2015 08:03:17 #
Liberty's Advocate wrote:
November 10, 2015 (Washington, D.C.) Today, Cit... (show quote)
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All very good questions, now who would be asking them, which debt?
Nov 29, 2015 08:16:41 #
Mom8052 wrote:
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All very good questions, now who would be asking them, which debt?
All very good questions, now who would be asking them, which debt?
It certainly wouldn't be one of the leftist media hacks, they are too busy Borking every rep candidate! THEY are known for fraud and lies and corruption, only the communists in the media protect them!
Nov 29, 2015 08:24:50 #
astrolite wrote:
It certainly wouldn't be one of the leftist media hacks, they are too busy Borking every rep candidate! THEY are known for fraud and lies and corruption, only the communists in the media protect them!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
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