An accountable and efficient Federal Government would help too:
Federal agencies made $125B in improper payments last year
Published March 17, 2015 - Associated Press
Federal agencies made $125 billion in improper payments last year, including tax credits to people who didn't qualify, Medicare payments for treatments that might not be necessary and unemployment benefits for people who were actually working, said a government report released Monday.
The level of improper payments was a new high after several years of declines. In addition to fraud, the errors included overpayments and underpayments, as well payments made without proper documentation.
While the errors were spread among 22 federal agencies, three programs stood out: Medicare, Medicaid and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Together, the three programs accounted for more than $93 billion in improper payments, according to the report by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress.
"This taxpayer money was not spent securing our borders, it was not spent on national defense, and it was not spent contributing to a safety net for those in need," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. "This is a problem that is going to get worse year after year if we do not get a handle on it now."
Johnson's committee held a hearing Monday on reducing improper payments by improving death records maintained by the Social Security Administration. Social Security has no death record for 6.5 million people who would be at least 112 years old, according to a report by the agency's inspector general.
In reality, only a few could possibly be alive. As of last fall, there were only 42 people known to be that old in the entire world.
Only 13 of the people are still getting Social Security benefits, the report said. But for others, their Social Security numbers are still active, so a number could be used to report wages, open bank accounts, obtain credit cards or claim fraudulent tax refunds.
Social Security maintains a database of people who have died called the Death Master File, or DMF. It helps public agencies and private companies know when Social Security numbers are no longer valid for use.
"Their absence from the DMF could result in erroneous payments made by federal benefit-paying agencies that rely on the DMF to verify recipient eligibility," said Patrick P. O'Carroll Jr., the Social Security inspector general. "It could also hinder state and local government and private industry -- banks, insurance companies, and others -- from identifying identity theft and other types of fraud."
The federal government's increase in improper payments comes after three years of steady declines. The level previously peaked at $121 billion in 2010 before dropping to $106 billion for the 2013 budget year.
The Obama administration says reducing improper payments is a priority. We have heard that before but action does not seem to occur.
"While progress has been made over the years, the time has come for a more aggressive strategy to reduce the levels of improper payments we currently are seeing," said David Mader, the controller at President Barack Obama's budget office.
Mader outlined several proposals in Obama's proposed budget for next year. They include programs to reduce fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, as well as budget increases at the IRS to combat tax fraud.
The GOP will never offend and will always support The Military.
We respect our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and respect the sacrifices they make to keep us safe and free.
I don't know how you can say those words with a straight face - just do a Google search on 'gop blocks help to the military' to see how much they care - here are a few of the headlines...
Republicans block Senate bill to boost veterans' benefits
GOP block votes on military sexual assault bills
U.S. Senate Republicans block veterans' health bill on budget worry
Who Really Hates Our Military? Republican Senator Blocks Veterans' Suicide Prevention Bill.....
The GOP will never offend and will always support The Military.
We respect our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and respect the sacrifices they make to keep us safe and free.I don't know how you can say those words with a straight face - just do a Google search on 'gop blocks help to the military' to see how much they care - here are a few of the headlines...
Republicans block Senate bill to boost veterans' benefits
GOP block votes on military sexual assault bills
U.S. Senate Republicans block veterans' health bill on budget worry
Who Really Hates Our Military? Republican Senator Blocks Veterans' Suicide Prevention Bill.....
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Yo use y'all's line:
You provided no links".
That's what happens when you do a Google search - millions of links.......
That's what happens when you do a Google search - millions of links.......
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Google search engine is highly skewed and they are about to change their algorithm again.
Most professional companies and organizations never use Google for exactly that reason.Your cut and paste of the headlines is also questionable as often the headline is the hype and the devil is in the details and who wrote the missive.
A good example is The Washington Post who will headline an article about the budget negotiations as “The GOP trying to Block Progress”.
And so on goes the game.
I remember every one of those headlines Sang refers to.
They are RECENT, you shouldn't need any links.
Get off your lazy ass and look them up yourself, troll boy.
Revisionist history is easy when you can't remember what happened six months ago.
Revisionist history is easy when you can't remember what happened six months ago.
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Still having those memory problems Ron?
Pity your new meds are not working for you.
I remember every one of those headlines Sang refers to.
They are RECENT, you shouldn't need any links.
Get off your lazy ass and look them up yourself, troll boy.
Unless it is a conservative website or Fox News it is not reliable information for Mule.
And if you catch him in lie and ask him for citation he deflects by telling you he will not do your work for you and find the citation yourself.
It is a waste of time debating with him which is why I rarely take his bait anymore.
I remember every one of those headlines Sang refers to.
They are RECENT, you shouldn't need any links.
Get off your lazy ass and look them up yourself, troll boy.
Unless it is a conservative website or Fox News it is not reliable information for Mule.
And if you catch him in lie and ask him for citation he deflects by telling you he will not do your work for you and find the citation yourself.
It is a waste of time debating with him which is why I rarely take his bait anymore.
_______________________________________________________
You just took the bait.
Curiously not one liberal here has ever stated from where they get their news and information.
How convenient.
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
____________________________________________________________________
Wow, an interest way to take my words and misrepresent them.
Typical liberal: have no contribution to the thread, never take a position but attack people who have another opinion.
You obviously would not vote for a Republican but feel a need to post in the Republican Candidate thread.
Are you capable of crafting a position or even a thought?
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
____________________________________________________________________
Wow, an interest way to take my words and misrepresent them.
Typical liberal: have no contribution to the thread, never take a position but attack people who have another opinion.
You obviously would not vote for a Republican but feel a need to post in the Republican Candidate thread.
Are you capable of crafting a position or even a thought?
Actually, he painted a perfect picture of you. And then you responded in a way that proved his point. Hasn't your foot been completely shot off by now? 😛
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
____________________________________________________________________
Wow, an interest way to take my words and misrepresent them.
Typical liberal: have no contribution to the thread, never take a position but attack people who have another opinion.
You obviously would not vote for a Republican but feel a need to post in the Republican Candidate thread.
Are you capable of crafting a position or even a thought?
Actually, he painted a perfect picture of you. And then you responded in a way that proved his point. Hasn't your foot been completely shot off by now? 😛
X2
I was waiting to see how long it took mule to refer to TEX as a "typical liberal".
And we've certainly seen this quoted or paraphrased mule favorite...like a hundred times before, "Are you capable of crafting a position or even a thought?"
The originality runneth deep in his response. 
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
Wow. You really have been paying attention! Excellent job condensing lots of information. I wish I had just sat this all out and read the "Tex-Notes". 😉
The liberals have neither position nor any candidate they support much less articulate why.
With nothing to contribute to the thread, attack someone who does not agree with them.
Ignorance is bliss so the liberals must be very happy people.
Stupid but happy.
The liberals have neither position nor any candidate they support much less articulate why.
With nothing to contribute to the thread, attack someone who does not agree with them.
Ignorance is bliss so the liberals must be very happy people.
Stupid but happy.
Im a 65 yr. resident of Fla. and wouldn't vote for Rubio or Bush for anything.
Don't be fooled by these two Power Drunk creeps.
The liberals have neither position nor any candidate they support much less articulate why.
With nothing to contribute to the thread, attack someone who does not agree with them.
Ignorance is bliss so the liberals must be very happy people.
Stupid but happy._________________________________________________________________________
So now we know why obama now has only two toes left.
[Edited on 3/18/2015 by Muleman1994]
Im a 65 yr. resident of Fla. and wouldn't vote for Rubio or Bush for anything.
Don't be fooled by these two Power Drunk creeps.
I'm a born and raised Texan, lived here most of my life, and I think the same of Perry and Cruz. Can't stomach Cruz especially. This may get me flamed, but I am Finding Scott Walker intriguing at this point.
Im a 65 yr. resident of Fla. and wouldn't vote for Rubio or Bush for anything.
Don't be fooled by these two Power Drunk creeps.I'm a born and raised Texan, lived here most of my life, and I think the same of Perry and Cruz. Can't stomach Cruz especially. This may get me flamed, but I am Finding Scott Walker intriguing at this point.
Yeah, well, you find gina intriguing so...
Im a 65 yr. resident of Fla. and wouldn't vote for Rubio or Bush for anything.
Don't be fooled by these two Power Drunk creeps.I'm a born and raised Texan, lived here most of my life, and I think the same of Perry and Cruz. Can't stomach Cruz especially. This may get me flamed, but I am Finding Scott Walker intriguing at this point.
Yeah, well, you find gina intriguing so...
Good point.
Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz!
Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz!
Hope you get a chance to vote for himmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
Wow. You really have been paying attention! Excellent job condensing lots of information. I wish I had just sat this all out and read the "Tex-Notes". 😉
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
Boom. Mic drop.
It seems that an educated black(?) man, who comes off as being ignorant, that served in the US Marines, yet disparages veterans, runs a large Company that is eradicating Ebola, yet spends most work hours trolling a music website, claims he knows best exactly how this Country should be run in regards to both foreign and domestic policy, yet doesn't share his insights with anyone, doesn't need to read anything about history because he already knows it all, can immediately determine who is and who is not guilty of any crime (even if he doesn't have all the facts yet) because he knows more about 'actual law' than anyone else in the U.S., also knows more about International law and agreements than anyone else in the world, can identify any individual's political affiliation merely by looking at them, speaks for all ''The People", apparently even me (?), but doesn't actually provide anything meaningful, ever, would be the ideal Republican candidate to run in 2016 (although he should probably avoid trying to use either 'mute' or 'moot' in a debate ever again)!
Wow. You really have been paying attention! Excellent job condensing lots of information. I wish I had just sat this all out and read the "Tex-Notes". 😉
Oh, and btw...Bush/Rubio 2016.
Plan your party. I mean...your "party" has already been planned.
Yay.... 🙁
Rand Paul has just introduced an amendment to a bill to dramatically increase defense spending. An extra 190 billion or 16% increase over two years. Sheesh.
I call that a shift to the right.
http://time.com/3759378/rand-paul-defense-spending/
And the military/industrial/CONGRESSIONAL/Security complex marches on! Sucking up ever more tax dollars as it lines the pockets of the connected all by perpetuating fear of a boogie man behind every corner. 
