Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Trump
Date:	1/8/2017 11:18:15 AM (updated 1/8/2017 11:20:08 AM)

hoping he will implement some expense cutting : wasteful spending, foreign aid, travel & conventions for federal workers--AND one of the best ways to stimulate  economic growth--cut the deficit !!!

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Trump
Date:	1/8/2017 1:55:11 PM

Don't know about other places in the government, but travel and conventions have been scrutinized and minimized since the GSA fiasco in the Army.  Even when I was still working, 10 years ago, you had to do a cost/benefit analysis to hold a conference anywhere.  Foreign Aid is the purview of the State Department - I don't subscribe to blindly cutting it, because there is a value to foreign militaries coming to train at U.S. military schools - not just that they learn our ways of doing things, but they have a chance to really learn about the U.S. and how democracy works here.  It also strengthens military ties, as bonds are formed by training together.  But these blank check give aways via the Corps of Engineers to do big national building exercises should be carefully reviewed and questioned.  And the bennies that are given away everytime an official goes to visit somewhere ought to end.  Anytime you see someone (like the President, VP, Secretaries of Departments going overseas, know that  check is going to be thrown on the table for equipment, training, funding projects)  I don't think Obama or his wife have gone to Africa that there wasn't a big check left behind for millions or billions of dollars.  We really have to ask what we are getting for the money. Good will? 

I agree with Trump that we should be seeking a quid pro quo for anything we do in terms of foreign aid.  I'm not disparaging Israel or Egypt, but I think we should review what we are getting for the 1.8B and the 1.3B we are giving to those countries under the Camp David Accords.  We are paying them to essentially not fight each other.  And a lot of the $1.8B we give Israel is going into their national defense industry, not just to support their defense, but for them to also compete with us  in the global marketplace.

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Trump
Date:	1/8/2017 3:21:28 PM

Even after the Lois Lerner episode of IRS targeting (hey was that a govt trying to influence our US elections?) there were reports of lavish IRS conventions, with booze, strippers, etc.  Maybe that was just fake news but I doubt it.   I think the concept of entitlement is rampant amongst govt agencies, employees.  Also, there should be NO labor uions for govt employees.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Trump
Date:	1/8/2017 4:22:52 PM

its crucial they get a handle on the deficit--we cannot continue to spend what we dont have--will erode the dollar, markets, etc

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Trump
Date:	1/8/2017 8:28:32 PM

No, it is not "rampant".  Sometimes there are misguided people that forget that they are supposed to be stewards of the taxpayers money. The IRS thing was another example.  But keep in mind that these are 2 groups in a huge government.  The thing with conferences is that you want people to attend and obviously they want to attend if they think it will be a fun time.  I can tell you about a number of conferences I spoke at where it was important to get my message out and quite a few of them were in "fun" places.  I did not pick the places, nor the venue, but I still went there and spoke and the government paid for it.    Our Director went to one that was held in Disney World. He was there to speak, but part of the arrangement that were made by the sponsor included a visit by Mickey Mouse, which happened to happen while he was speaking.  So he got his picture taken with Mickey and it was published in Defense News.  He got his a$$ chewed, although he had nothing to do with it. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Trump
Date:	1/8/2017 8:32:14 PM

And as far as labor unions, perhaps you should talk to some federal government people feel about Unions. Most people do not belong to them, because hiring and firing are guided by law and regulation, not by anything the union can do.  Most people realize it is a waste of time.