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Loopholes: Millionaires amass $30 billion in tax takebacks

By: Staff report 11/14/11 11:58 PM
WHAT: The government is subsidizing lifestyles of the rich and famous with tax write-offs for vacation homes, luxury yachts and gambling losses, plus subsidies for their ranches and estates, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., charged.WHO: Samples of the $30 billion loopholes in Coburn’s 37-page report include farm subsidies to rocker Jon Bon Jovi for a plot of land where he raises bees and to Bruce Springsteen for property he leases to an organic farmer. Read More

U.S. hands out foreign aid to countries rich enough to buy our debt

By: Staff report 06/05/11 8:00 AM
WHAT: The U.S. gave away a total of $1.4 billion in foreign aid during fiscal year 2010 to 16 countries that owned at least $10 billion of our Treasury securities, according to the Congressional Research Service. WHO: Creditor nations getting foreign aid included China, Brazil, India and Egypt. Russia held $128 billion in U.S. debt and received $71.5 million in aid. Read More

Waste watch: Feds misspend $3 billion for kooky research

By: Staff report 05/26/11 10:46 PM
WHAT: A $500,000 grant to test shrimps’ speed on a treadmill, $1.5 million to create a robot that needs 25 minutes to fold a single towel and a South Pole off-duty Jell-O wrestling event were projects funded by the National Science Foundation. Read More

Senate letter seeks Obama compliance with War Powers Act

By: Conn Carroll 05/18/11 1:40 PM
Six Republican Senators will sign a letter this afternoon asking President Obama if he intends to comply with War Powers Act regarding Libya. Sens. Read More

Tea Party clashes with GOP establishment over defense

By: Timothy P. Carney 02/16/11 9:05 PM
The tension between the Republican establishment and the Tea Party insurgents erupted on the House floor for the first time Wednesday when 110 GOP representatives -- mostly freshmen and some longtime conservative gadflies -- broke from their leadership and most of their caucus in order to kill a defense contract. Read More

‘Secret spending’ may soar if Senate doesn’t fix consent rule

By: Tina Korbe 01/25/11 10:51 PM
The frequent use of “unanimous consent” in the Senate is a little-known fact about the upper chamber. It has resulted in a practice of “secret spending” — passing important and expensive bills without debate or even a recorded vote. Over the past 22 years, 93 percent of approved measures did not even receive roll-call votes. Read More

Olbermann’s departure strikes a blow against political hysteria

By: Hugh Hewitt 01/24/11 10:56 PM
Whatever the particulars of Keith Olbermann’s abrupt departure from MSNBC, the fact is he had come to define the network. By separating with Olbermann at this moment, MSNBC is speaking volumes about the debate that has consumed the country for the past two weeks. Read More

It’s D-Day against the national debt

By: Sen. Tom Coburn 01/04/11 11:58 PM
Sixteen years ago, I was among a class of 73 freshmen Republicans who came to Washington for reasons very similar to why 87 freshmen Republicans were just elected. The country was alarmed by Washington’s attempts to take over our health care system and disgusted with Congress’ spending and self-indulgence. Read More

Smiling Dems will soon cry 'Washington is broken'

By: Byron York 12/23/10 9:05 PM
"Washington, right now, is broken," said Vice President Biden in February. "I've never seen it this dysfunctional." Read More

End Transmission: "Look at how much they accomplished" edition

By: J.P. Freire 12/22/10 4:11 PM
Term limits working for better or worse (mostly worse) Are you pleasantly surprised with how much got done these last few weeks? Are you glad to see the intellectual and ideological independence displayed by the leadership over the last You may not be aware of it, Democrats, but congratulations: You are in favor of term limits. Read More

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