FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2011

Paulsen Questions GAO Official on Government Waste in Duplicative Programs
GAO Report Identifies Significant Overlap of Welfare and Related Programs

Washington, D.C. – Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03) today questioned Kay E. Brown, Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security for the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) during a Ways & Means, Human Resources Subcommittee hearing about duplicative programs that are wasting tax dollars and contributing to our spending-driven debt crisis.  Paulsen expressed concern that bureaucratic inefficiencies and poor oversight are contributing to the waste.

“With our country borrowing nearly 40 cents on every dollar it spends and facing trillion dollar deficits, it’s clear Washington’s wasteful spending spree must come to an end,” said Paulsen. “The report released by the GAO in March identified areas with overlapping objectives and confirmed wasteful Washington spending continues in our bloated bureaucracy. Today’s hearing specifically examined 19 of these duplicative programs where inefficiencies are not only wasting taxpayer dollars, but also inadequately serving those who rely on the programs. I’m hopeful this report and this hearing will bring forth changes that will reduce waste, allow for greater efficiency, and better serve taxpayers and families in need.” 

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Korea-U.S. Free Trade Working Group and co-chair of the House Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress, please visit www.paulsen.house.gov.

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