Keith Ashdown
Keith Ashdown
hilton money paris poor program save shoe spent
It's ironic. This program was set up to save money. But because of poor oversight, it has spent money like Paris Hilton at a shoe sale.
congress gorilla happen major nobody program protecting talking
The only thing I think can happen is that (Congress enacts) a very large, across-the-board cut, ... and nobody is talking about that. Every major program has an 800-pound gorilla protecting it.
budgetary easy federal fights footprint gorilla hard item known limit tick
We've known for years that there are some easy things on paper. But it's politically hard to limit the budgetary footprint of the federal government. Any item you try and cut, you're going to tick off an 800-pound gorilla that fights with a sledgehammer.
best change disclose discourse public review time
Transparency is the best disinfectant. If they would disclose everything and give the public time to review it, that would change the discourse dramatically.
alaska call hollywood north vancouver
You know how they call Vancouver 'North Hollywood'? Well, Alaska could become 'North North Hollywood,'
belts everybody fly luxury telling
If they're telling everybody to tighten their belts and they're leasing these luxury cars, it just doesn't fly in Peoria.
creating government hunting money rather
I have better things to do than hunting around for where the money is hidden, ... We would rather the government be doing this, creating a one-stop shop. Is that really too much to ask?
bill challenges defense figure initial location money percent releases tied
One of the challenges of defense earmarks -- when you get initial bill 3 or 4 percent has a location tied to the earmark, then look at 535 releases and triangulate to figure out where the money is going.
betting billions cutting fiscal lose party pay promises public senators
Senators are betting that pandering to the public with billions in election-year promises will pay off more than they lose by cutting the fiscal conservatives in their own party off at the knees.
definitely influence lobbyists lung second strategy
Most other lobbyists would give up their second lung to get that kind of access. It's not always illegal, but it's definitely a strategy of influence that's unparalleled.
federal fiscal grade higher house
I give him a C-minus. It's better than we've had, but we've got a long way to go to get this federal fiscal house in order. ... I would give him a much higher grade if he had vetoed just one (spending) bill.
hearings next sets stage
This sets the stage for some very, very interesting hearings next week.
best government shows strive
This shows the best government contractors don't always get hired, the most politically influential do. We need to strive for more competitive bidding.
learn money months stolen wasted
We will learn months after the money was wasted or stolen that it was wasted and stolen.