MILLER: Congress Needs Rehab

In spending-addicted government, redundant programs can’t get cut

In treating addiction, experts say admitting there is a problem is the first step to recovery. Steps Two through 12 require stopping the drug of choice and taking action not to start again. When it comes to a spending and legislating addiction, Congress can’t get past Step One. In order to tackle the nation’s $15.4 trillion debt, Washington must stop creating new programs and start eliminating the excess.

On Tuesday, House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa held a hearing on the second annual report to Congress from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on duplicative and overlapping government programs. It lists specific areas across federal agencies that should be consolidated or eliminated, saving tens of billions.

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