Posted by D. Cupples | While most Americans are frustrated by Congress's failure to make major changes since Democrats took so-called "control" in January, at least one Dem congressman has
accomplished a lot -- and precisely because Dems attained a majority: the gentleman from California, Henry Waxman.
Just hearing Waxman's name makes me smile, because he generates hope that we taxpayers really can discover and combat government waste, fraud, abuse and corruption.
Since the Dems gained "control" and gave Waxman control of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, all hell's been breaking loose. Though Waxman has diligently investigated issues for years, he didn't have control of the spotlight until he got control of the Oversight Committee. Whatever our party affiliation, we taxpayers should be glad that Waxman wields said control, because it's our best hope for learning how our tax dollars are being spent.
Today's Washington Post lists more than 20 issues that Waxman's committee has investigated since January, issues that otherwise may have remained under the rug....
Below are just a few of Waxman's investigations this year:
- Delivery of billions in cash to Iraq (some was lost)
- Insurance companies' milking of Medicare
- FDA's failure to protect diabetics who use Avandia
- The Administration's muzzling of the Surgeon General
- State Dept.'s blocking of investigations
See WaPo's article for more about Waxman's list, and see Memeorandum for other bloggers' reactions.
Related BN-Politics' posts:
* Tax Dollars Funded Luxury Travel
* The Reality of Dems' So-Called "Control" of Congress
* Private Insurers Milking Medicare
* Inspector General Blocked Investigations re: Waste and Fraud?
* Have U.S. Officials Protected Blackwater?
* State Dept.'s Odd & Untimely Reactions to Blackwater Scandals
* State Dept. Staff Threatened for Cooperating with Congress
* Blackwater Uses Fuzzy Math to Justify Costs
* Blackwater Hearing: Poor Media Coverage
* DynCorp Joins Blackwater as Probe Target, State Dept. Stonewalls
* Blackwater Took Iraqi Airplanes, CEO Misled Congress?
* Probe re: Embassy in Iraq & State Dept. Officials
* Embassy in Iraq: Waste, Bad Planning, and Contractor Fraud?
* Govt. Contractors: Driving up War's Costs?
* Interior Dept. Officials Allowed Oil Companies to Underpay Royalties
* Contractor Fraud: Driving Up Healthcare costs?
Waxman has been a bit of a pit bull hasnt he
Posted by: Sparky Duck | October 25, 2007 at 10:04 AM
That's why Waxman makes me smile.
Posted by: D. Cupples | October 25, 2007 at 12:07 PM