Where is the Money Going?
Vets Accuse Pentagon of Saving Money by Classifying PTSD as “Personality Disorder”
The federal government is being sued by multiple Vietnam veterans’ organizations for allegedly classifying ex-soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with “personality disorder” instead. PTSD is covered by health care benefit... read more
Executive Stock Options…Tax Break for Big Businesses, Bust for Other Americans
Following the stock market troubles of 2008, corporations handed out generous stock options to their executives that are now proving a great tax advantage for the businesses.
Federal tax law allows the companies to claim a tax deduction in fut... read more
GAO Blames Defense Dept. for Causing Federal Finances to be Unauditable
At the end of each year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) prepares to offer a collective analysis of all the federal government’s financial statements. But this year the GAO said it cannot do so because, among other things, the Departmen... read more
As Winter Begins, Congress Cuts Home Heating Aid for Poor
With months of winter still to come, lawmakers in Washington decided to slash federal support for home heating bills by 25%, provoking criticism from politicians of both parties in the Northeast.
Funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistan... read more
As Housing Needs Intensify, Government Slashes Housing Aid
In city after city, ample evidence exists of the need for housing assistance in the United States. But as far as Congress is concerned, the problem simply doesn’t require funding.
Federal housing officials estimate that “worst-case housing nee... read more
Gift Tax Case Tests Limits of IRS Subpoena Power
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking help from a federal court in order to force the California Board of Equalization to turn over records of potential tax cheats.
The California tax agency has refused to honor the IRS request to turn... read more
Connecticut Becomes First State to Require Sick Pay for Service Workers
Beginning in January, Connecticut will implement the nation’s first state mandatory paid sick leave for service employees.
The new law only applies to businesses with 50 or more employees.
Service workers will be able to accrue one hour of... read more
Justice Dept. Loosens Restrictions on (Taxable) Online Gambling
The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a legal opinion reversing its longstanding opposition to many forms of Internet gambling. The change could mean new revenue opportunities for cash-strapped state governments.
Officials in New York and ... read more
VA Gave Security Contract to Booz Allen Hamilton Despite Lower Opposing Bids
In awarding a contract to Booz Allen Hamilton, the Department of Veterans Affairs rejected alternative bids that were millions of dollars lower, according to the VA’s inspector general.
Booz Allen’s submission for a 2010 information security c... read more
Doctors Overwhelmingly Dominate Top Federal Salaries List
Many of those making the most money among U.S. government civil servants have an MD after their names, according to WikiOrgCharts.
Using data obtained from federal agencies, the company compiled a list of the top 1,000 earners in Washington, D... read more
Trillion-Dollar F-35 Jet Fighter Has 13 Flaws
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, already the costliest weapons program in U.S. history, is going to eat up even more taxpayer dollars now that more than a dozen flaws have been found in the aircraft.
A secretive review panel convened by the Depa... read more
Money for Foreign Income Tax Holiday is Actually Vacationing in the U.S….Tax-Free
U.S. corporations complaining that their overseas earnings are trapped there because taxes are too high to bring home have already moved huge sums back onto American soil, a Senate investigation found.
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Inve... read more
Republican Members of Election Commission Block Disclosure of Campaign Donors
Big-money interests will not have to reveal their identity when spending on political advertisements during next year’s election, thanks to Republicans on the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Democrats on the FEC pushed for new rules requiri... read more
Huge Food Companies File Antitrust Complaint against Huge Egg Companies
In a battle of corporate food titans, some of the United States’ largest egg suppliers are being sued by national food companies over claims of anti-trust activity. The plaintiffs are Kraft Foods, Kellogg, General Mills and Nestlé, while the defen... read more
Bank of America Wins Worst Bank Title; Credit Unions Customers Most Satisfied
Thanks in part to its “wildly unpopular” debit-card fee idea, Bank of America now ranks last among major banks for customer satisfaction.
BofA’s score of 68 (on a scale of 0 to 100) put it dead last among major banks, according to The American... read more
Earmarks Won’t Go Away…House Members Caught Inserting 115 in Defense Bill
Letting go of earmarks is one of the hardest things to do for U.S. House members.
The office of Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) contends in a new report that both Republicans and Democrats stuffed a major defense appropriations bill with... read more