Coburn report pans GAO budget cuts

[alp227]

Source: Wash. Post

Further budget reductions at the Government Accountability Office could force cutbacks in the hundreds of investigations and audits published annually by the investigative agency, a Republican senator warns in a new report.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a longtime GAO champion and critic of federal spending, published a 29-page report this week in hopes of convincing congressional appropriators to spare the watchdog agency from as much as $42 million in cuts this year.

If the cuts occur, GAO bosses say reductions will force furloughs, layoffs and delays in updating office computers. And Coburn fears that the cuts would come at a time when Congress needs the GAO more than ever.

“Quite frankly, the reason the guidance of GAO is so important at this time is because Congress has increasingly ignored its own duties to oversee the functions of government,” his report said. “Even with a shrinking budget, GAO has continued to produce nearly 1,000 reports a year recommending billions of dollars in savings.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/coburn-report-pans-gao-budget-cuts/2011/11/17/gIQA3JHfVN_story.html

[Beartracks]

1. Some days, I agree with this man on something.

It's one of those things that gives me hope.

=========================

[No Elephants]

2. Well, either he's sincere or he is up to something.

While that is not as helpful as I would like to be, I am just saying that a Republican urging funds for a government agency that is not in the D of D should be squinted at hard before being taken at face value.

[oldhippydude]

3. don't suspect

god told him... nah he's busy with Herman Cain

[truthisfreedom]

4. If the GAO goes, the whole system is all corporate-controlled.

Unless someone can provide me with evidence to the contrary, the GAO is truly non-partisan and usually makes me perk my ears up with their announcements.