Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
Back to homepageBullet train CEO on war path
May 9, 2013 By Chris Reed Last month’s Los Angeles Times’ bombshell about the state bullet-train project could scarcely have made those in charge of the California High-Speed Rail Authority look worse. The Times reported that in determining who would
Read MoreCalSTRS ‘baby’ owes $29,632 already
May 8, 2013 By John Seiler As Ed Ring notes today, the state of California has run up a “Wall of Debt” of $1.126 trillion. That’s $1,126,000,000,000,000.00. There are 38 million Californians. So it comes to $29,632 per person, including
Read MoreImmigration bill bloats to 867 pages
May 7, 2013 By John Seiler As I mentioned two weeks ago, the Gang of 8 immigration bill, S. 744, extended to 844 pages of indecipherable governmentese. Here’s an example of what I quoted: Page 65: 17 (ii) EXCEPTIONS.—The discretionary
Read MoreGreen cars burn taxpayer green
April 29, 2013 By Steven Greenhut We’re used to political races revolving around pointless slogans, but sometimes an important race focuses the public’s attention on a meaningful and relevant issue. For instance, the Virginia governorship may hinge on voters’ increasing
Read MoreSEC charges Chicago-based investment adviser with defrauding CalPERS
April 18, 2013 By Josephine Djuhana The SEC released a statement today, charging Chicago-based investment advisory firm Simran Capital Management with lying to CalPERS regarding the amount of money managed by the firm. The president and sole owner of the
Read MoreNewsom explains CA govt. for you
April 15, 2013 By John Seiler Promoting his new book, “Citizenville,” Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke to Fortune magazine. His last line was the best, explaining how he’s eager to write articles, “I’m available, and I’m cheap because I’m in government,
Read MoreDonors lavish gifts on key aides in CA Legislature
April 14, 2013 By Chris Reed The term limits that shuffle lawmakers in and out of office in Sacramento vest considerable power in the staff members who remain in powerful posts, whether working for individual lawmakers or in key assignments
Read MoreHouse GOP whip: Folly to expect fed $ for bullet train
April 12, 2013 By Chris Reed There’s a double-whammy targeting the bullet train on the op-ed page of Friday’s U-T San Diego newspaper. First House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, tees off on the state’s assumption that federal dollars will
Read MoreNot just in China: The corrupt act that got CA bullet train passed
April 12, 2013 By Chris Reed The news that the former head of China’s bullet-train program is facing corruption charges probably prompts some Californians to wonder if any of the people who aggressively lied Proposition 1A to passage in 2008
Read MoreCA bullet train: Parade of bad news continues
April 11, 2013 By Chris Reed On Wednesday, there was yet another negative headline coming out of Sacramento about the bullet-train fiasco: “A State Assembly budget committee voted Wednesday to approve a loan for the High-Speed Rail Authority. “The $26.2
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