SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Our country could greatly benefit from the automatic deportation of foreigners convicted of serious crimes.

In Switzerland, “the government must expel, without possibility of appeals, foreigners convicted of serious crimes — ranging from murder, rape, armed robbery, and drug trafficking to abusing Switzerland's welfare system — after they complete their prison sentences”.

Right now, in the United States deportation... more »

Require all federal agencies to turn in to Congress a one page document explaining what article(s) of the Constitution authorizes their existence. Eliminate those agencies that do not have clear and specific authorization in the Constitution.

Require warmer facility temperatures in summer and cooler facility temperatures in winter. Encourage people to dress appropriately for the season. Most facilities could change their temperatures a degree or two with little difference in occupant comfort. Over the entire federal government a huge cost savings can be recognized. Unoccupied spaces can be adjusted more significantly.

The military ,every year moves hundreds of thousands of members just for career advancement.The taxpayer not only foots the bill for the expensive move but also in the 2-3 months of lost productivity Cut these permanent change of station moves by 2/3. Raise the time on station limit to 6 years before someone can move to another base.

Eliminate foreign aid spending (except for Emergency assistance due to disasters) immediately. Approximately 150 out of the 190 or so nations on this planet are supported by the US taxpayer. The cost runs into the BILLIONS every year (including this year) and the return on investment in negligable. It's time to take care of "AMERICA" first (i.e., Number #1) and stop this outrageous, unconstitutional foreign wellfare... more »

We waste thousands of hours and dollars on training that is not relevant to the employee and not relevant to the program. Some of these classes are repeated over and over again, every year. Some examples of this are the Civil Rights and Internet Security classes. Having all employees take these classes every year is excessive and a waste of time. Other examples include ICS 100, ICS 700, ICS 800, HAZWOPER, and NARA... more »

The government makes a lot of purchases from computers to cell phones. If the government were to hire a full time buyer, his sole function would be to look for the best products at the best prices. He would spend 8 hours a day everyday scouring the Internet and sales ads looking for the best deals. It may be true that frequently the government purchase in bulk quantities. However that full time buyer could buy in chunks... more »

Please stop buying new furniture when there is nothing wrong with the old furniture. The Agency purchased new ergonomic chairs because they had money to do so, unfortunately there was nothing wrong with the old chairs. The old chairs will probably end up in some landfill. It is a waste of money. If it is not broken, do not replace it.

At the prison I work at we have 30 microwaves for inmate use. They run almost 24 hours a day, they are replacing them almost every mouth. Each microwave is $200 plus, they are industrial microwave not the regular household models. That’s 5,000 dollars worth of microwave replace almost every mouth. That’s 50,000 dollars a year. You times that by 130 prisons you get 7,800,000 dollars on microwave for inmates. Inmates abuse... more »

Currently federal agencies mandate electronic payroll deposits. On the flip side, many still send out paper payroll subs.

 

I would like to see a federal mandate to make all payroll stubs electronic. This would save postage and paper costs while simultanelously expediting these notices to all federal employees.

If the Presdient pledged to veto every unbalanced budget, and followed through with this threat for two terms...
or Congress could simply pass a balanced budget bill, maybe for only ten years just to see how it works. However, it is not in any individual legislator's interest to balance the budget. This is the classic "tragedy of the commons" secnario where we all see that conservation is necessary, but each person... more »

USPS Priority and Express Mail are very cost effective and dependable shipping solutions. Yet, USPS is not even available as a shipping option in some federal government facilities. USPS shipping supplies and training should be available to anyone military or civil servant. Granted, not everything can be shipped using USPS, but it should be the preferable option when and where it's most cost effective. It will not... more »

Military members that are married to other military members are essentially being paid twice to cover their housing cost. If the members live together they should only get one BAH rate for the household. Eliminating the second members BAH and giving dependant rate for the family will be adequate to cover housing cost AND save the government a bunch of money. Sadly, members today take advantage of this program and get... more »

Quit spending millions (I.E. $60 million on a flying hummer) on useless contracts that will never be approved for use. There are some contracts that are purposeful, but spending that much for a flying vehicle that will never take off is just the tip of the iceberg.

Personal Printers are, quite possibly, the single biggest waste of government resources.

It costs $9.44 annually to power one small desktop printer used at a minimal rates. *

In my office alone I count over 100 personal printers, and this is in addition to the two dozen or so massive laser printers (which, themselves cost around $100 apiece annually)

By eliminating all of the personal printers in just this office... more »