It's Been Two Years

In mid-November of 2006 the head of the GAO, David Walker, sent a 'note' to Congress offering three sets of recommendations for the consideration of the new Congress. Now that the 110th Congress is just about over, look the recommendations over and see how well our leaders have done. I can't see that they have implemented any of the recommendations. How do these guys spend their time doing the nation's business? Throw the rascals out!

Targets for Near-Term Oversight
1. Reduce the Tax Gap
2. Address Government-wide Acquisition and Contracting Issues
3. Transform the Business Operations of the Department of Defense, Including Addressing All Related “High-Risk” Areas
4. Ensure the Effective Integration and Transformation of the Department of Homeland Security
5. Enhance Information Sharing, Accelerate Transformation, and Improve Oversight Related to the Nation’s Intelligence Agencies
6. Enhance Border Security and Enforcement of Existing Immigration Laws
7. Ensure the Safety and Security of All Modes of Transportation and the Adequacy of Related Funding Mechanisms
8. Strengthen Efforts to Prevent the Proliferation of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Weapons and Their Delivery Systems (Missiles)
9. Ensure a Successful Transformation of the Nuclear Weapons Complex
10. Enhance Computer Security and Deter Identity Theft
11. Ensure a Cost Effective and Reliable 2010 Censu
12. Transform the Postal Service’s Business Model
13. Ensure Fair Value Collection of Oil Royalties Produced from Federal Lands
14. Ensure the Effectiveness and Coordination of U.S. International Counterterrorism Efforts
15. Review the Effectiveness of Strategies to Ensure Workplace Safety

Policies and Programs That Are in Need of Fundamental Reform and Re-Engineering
1. Review U.S. and Coalition Efforts to Stabilize and Rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan
2. Ensure a Strategic and Integrated Approach to Prepare for, Respond to, Recover, and Rebuild from Catastrophic Event
3. Reform the Tax Code, Including Reviewing the Performance of Tax Preferences
4. Reform Medicare and Medicaid to Improve Their Integrity and Sustainability
5. Ensure the Adequacy of National Energy Supplies and Related Infrastructure
6. Reform Immigration Policy to Ensure Equity and Economic Competitiveness
7. Assess Overall Military Readiness, Transformation Efforts, and Existing Plans to Assure the Sustainability of the All-Volunteer Force
8. Assure the Quality and Competitiveness of the U.S. Education System
9. Strengthen Retirement Security Through Reforming Social Security, Increasing Pension Saving and Promoting Financial Literacy
10. Examine the Costs, Benefits, and Risks of Key Environmental Issues
11. Reform Federal Housing Programs and Related Financing and Regulatory Structure
12. Ensure the Integrity and Equity of Existing Farm Programs
13. Review Federal Efforts to Improve the Image of the United States

Governance Issues That Should be Addressed to Help Ensure an Economical, Efficient, Effective, Ethical, and Equitable Federal Government Capable of Responding to the Various Challenges and Capitalizing on Related Opportunities in the 21st Century
1. Review the Need for Various Budget Controls and Legislative Process Revisions in Light of Current Deficits and Our Long-Range Fiscal Imbalance
2. Pursue the Development of Key National Indicators
3. Review the Impact and Effectiveness of Various Management Reforms Enacted in Recent Years (e.g., GPRA, CFO Act, FFMIA, Clinger-Cohen, etc.
4. Review the Effectiveness of the Federal Audit and Accountability Community, Including the Oversight, Structure, and Division of Responsibility
5. Modernize the Federal Government’s Organizational and Human Capital Models
6. Re-examine the Presidential (Political) Appointment Process
7. Ensure Transparency over Executive Policies and Operations
8. Monitor and Assess Corporate Financial Reporting and Related Standards for Public Companies Accountability