When U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan) went to Congress in 1995, one of his goals was to shrink the size of the federal government. He, like most Americans, knew there had to be billions of dollars wasted every year through duplicative and unnecessary federal programs. His assessment was correct, but he underestimated how difficult a task it is to eliminate a government program. After years of persistence, the Tiahrt-sponsored “Government Efficiency Act” (GEA) will be heard by the House Government Reform Committee Wednesday and is expected to be on the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote sometime this month.

In Tiahrt’s first term, he tried to eliminate the U.S. Department of Energy. Despite documented waste, fraud and abuse within the agency, including much criticized travel expenses and irregularities by then-Secretary of Energy Hazel O’Leary, the agency survived. Tiahrt quickly learned that preserving government programs was a bi-partisan endeavor.

“Every government program impacts someone’s constituents,” explained Tiahrt. “While Kansans do not understand why the federal government should subsidize sugar growers, there are some Members of Congress who believe that is more important than subsidizing wheat or milk production.”

In addition to parochial interests, Tiahrt recognized that Member schedules are so consumed by hearings, constituent meetings and other responsibilities, it is difficult to spend adequate time investigating deep enough in the federal bureaucracy to make meaningful cuts and provide thorough oversight. When U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) approached Tiahrt about sponsoring legislation in the House to establish an independent commission to review federal government programs for waste, fraud and abuse and then recommend reorganization, elimination or strengthening successful programs, Tiahrt was encouraged.

Tiahrt has introduced legislation to establish a “waste, fraud and abuse” commission in each of the last three Congresses. The Commission was modeled after the successful Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) used to review U.S. military infrastructure and spending. The BRAC process culminates with a recommendation to Congress that may be accepted or rejected. It is a package that may not be amended, which diminishes the opportunity for parochial interests to derail the entire recommendation.

“An independent commission with no natural constituency would be able to objectively review the federal government. The commission could not only determine whether it makes sense for multiple agencies to provide the same service; it can recommend which agency is most efficient in providing the service. While I wish I could say Congress can provide this same oversight, reality indicates otherwise,” said Tiahrt.  

Tiahrt is quick to point out that the House Appropriations Committee did eliminate approximately 52 government programs last year. However, he concedes it was just “the tip of the iceberg.” Some government watchdog groups have conservatively estimated the federal government wastes $80 to $100 billion annually.

Earlier this year, new House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) asked Tiahrt to help develop the Republican agenda. As part of that effort, Boehner asked Tiahrt to work with leadership and other members to develop “a Grace Commission with teeth.” The Grace Commission was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to identify waste, fraud and abuse within the federal government. While the Grace Commission made 2,478 recommendations with a targeted savings of $424.4 billion over three years, many of the realities identified by Tiahrt in the current process proved to be too difficult to overcome in actually realizing the benefits of the Commission’s work.

After working for months, Tiahrt and other members arrived at a compromise between Tiahrt’s original bill and other ideas offered by conservative and moderate members of the Republican conference. Tiahrt’s measure has also received some Democrat support. The GEA appears to have sufficient support to make it out of committee and to the House floor sometime in July.

Along with Tiahrt, Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-Va.) and U.S. Representative Jon Porter (R-Nev.) are sponsoring the bill. The GEA establishes the framework by which the President or Congress may establish a waste, fraud and abuse commission. The legislation also establishes an expedited process for Congress to work under in reviewing and responding to a commission recommendation.

“This bill is a victory for those of us who have worked more than a decade in trying to establish a waste, fraud and abuse commission. It is a workable compromise that gets us one step closer to realizing a long-term vision. It is not perfect, but it is a giant leap forward in cutting government spending, and that is a victory worth waiting for,” Tiahrt said.