Browse Ideas with tag 'waste':

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  V.A. Prescriptions - Have a "Hold Until Patient Requests" option

  We need to have an option for our healthcare providers to select that would put the prescription in a status that would not send out a patients medications until the patient requests them. When prescriptions get renewed, often the provider just wishes to add refills. Currently, our system assumes that it needs to go ahead and ship out an order. Often the patient doesn't need the medication now. This is a source of ...more »

  We need to have an option for our healthcare providers to select that would put the prescription in a status that would not send out a patients medications until the patient requests them. When prescriptions get renewed, often the provider just wishes to add refills. Currently, our system assumes that it needs to go ahead and ship out an order. Often the patient doesn't need the medication now. This is a source of waste and frustration for our patients.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  It is time to get rid of: Use or Lose EOY Spending

  It is time for the government to get away from punishing agencies for not spending their entire budgets and start rewarding agencies/personnel for going under budget. The EOY spending frenzy is out of control and wasted spending costs the government a rediculous amount of money. I know this is certainly not a new or original idea. But lets make sure the President truly understands how much money is wasted by this ...more »

  It is time for the government to get away from punishing agencies for not spending their entire budgets and start rewarding agencies/personnel for going under budget. The EOY spending frenzy is out of control and wasted spending costs the government a rediculous amount of money.

  I know this is certainly not a new or original idea. But lets make sure the President truly understands how much money is wasted by this practice.

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  23 comments for Idea: It is time to get rid of: Use or Lose EOY Spending

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Come up with efficient ways to communicate

  We travel all the time to meet and for training. With such budget problems is travel really needed with our current technology. Why can't we make the best of it for now and use web, video and phone conferencing. When times are good we can travel again. Thanks EDIT: I found these posts buried down in the hundreds of ideas. Thanks to the authors: http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Elimninate-End-of-Year-Spending/118530-13060 ...more »

  We travel all the time to meet and for training. With such budget problems is travel really needed with our current technology.

  Why can't we make the best of it for now and use web, video and phone conferencing.

  When times are good we can travel again.

  Thanks

  EDIT: I found these posts buried down in the hundreds of ideas.

  Thanks to the authors:

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Elimninate-End-of-Year-Spending/118530-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Utilize-the-Site/120215-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Analyze-processes-and-improve-them-to-reduce-work/121196-13060

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  87 comments for Idea: Come up with efficient ways to communicate

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  210 votes

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  Stop Disability payments for those working full time

  There are several employees who are working for the VA who are also receiving a disablity check from the VA every month. Why should an employee who can work a full time job at a GS11 or GS12 received a disability payment from the VA? These employees are not disabled and shouldn't be recieving a government welfare check every month for being able to work a full time job. This is a huge amount of money being wasted. ...more »

  There are several employees who are working for the VA who are also receiving a disablity check from the VA every month. Why should an employee who can work a full time job at a GS11 or GS12 received a disability payment from the VA? These employees are not disabled and shouldn't be recieving a government welfare check every month for being able to work a full time job. This is a huge amount of money being wasted. I think the Congress needs to fix this loophole in the law and correct this. Certainly this could save several millions of dollars a year

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  101 comments for Idea: Stop Disability payments for those working full time

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  170 votes

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  Add back the disagree button!

  Add back the disagree button!

  13 comments for Idea: Add back the disagree button!

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  121 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Free Market - eliminate agriculture subsidies

  Agriculture subsidies are the largest welfare program in this country, and go against the idea of free trade. By eliminating subsidies we will grow only crops that are needed, eliminate excesses, bring down the cost of food, and provide farmers an incentive to become the best producer that they can be. We don't subsidize the local mom and pop endeavors, so we shouldn't subsidize this sector of our economy.

  23 comments for Idea: Free Market - eliminate agriculture subsidies

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  116 votes

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  Create a flat Federal income tax

  Create a flat Federal income tax for all tax brackets and free up IRS employees to fight all levels tax related fraud.

  15 comments for Idea: Create a flat Federal income tax

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Adopt 2-Year Budget Cycle

  Many states, localities and corporations currently use a 2-year budget cycle and I propose considering the federal government do the same. Senator Conrad and the Fiscal Commission discussed this as a way to make the budget cycle more efficient and enable better planning and accountability of resources. Congress hardly ever enacts budgets at the start of the fiscal year as is (the present is a case in point) and programmatic, ...more »

  Many states, localities and corporations currently use a 2-year budget cycle and I propose considering the federal government do the same. Senator Conrad and the Fiscal Commission discussed this as a way to make the budget cycle more efficient and enable better planning and accountability of resources. Congress hardly ever enacts budgets at the start of the fiscal year as is (the present is a case in point) and programmatic, Agency and WH budget staff barely finish one CJ before planning for the next starts, leading little time for analysis, review, cost-benefit work, building the consensus to cut poor performing programs, or planning multi-year cost-saving initiatives. 2-year funding would also give Agencies and programs far more certainty in their own mission-related work. Planning a $3T+ budget every 12 months forces a frenetic schedule every year and gives Agencies, OMB and Congress little time to truly dig into public programs and build stronger fiscal expectations.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Return unused year end funds to the Treasury

  Too often agency officials regard year end funds as their personal slush funds, from which they can buy any goodies they would like. The OMB needs to track these much more closely, and when it finds abuse of these funds, not only claw back the misused funds, but reduce the next year's budget for that agency by double that amount.

  13 comments for Idea: Return unused year end funds to the Treasury

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Inmate Work Requirements

  Prisoners should have to work off their incarceration expenses: room and board, meals, clothing/laundry, electricity, heating/cooling, water for showers, waste disposal costs, health care, etc. No more free rides for having broken the law. In addition, hourly work load is based on a system that considers several factors: criminal record (each subsequent incarceration results in more work hours,) degree of crime committed ...more »

  Prisoners should have to work off their incarceration expenses: room and board, meals, clothing/laundry, electricity, heating/cooling, water for showers, waste disposal costs, health care, etc. No more free rides for having broken the law. In addition, hourly work load is based on a system that considers several factors: criminal record (each subsequent incarceration results in more work hours,) degree of crime committed (the harder the criminal, the more work hours,) behavior during incarceration (incentive to not cause trouble, and to help others). The result: Inmates have less time to cause trouble, and waste electricity on television and internet. More time: dedicated to overall health and physical fitness thus reducing or eliminating health care costs.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Turn off non-essential computers at night

  Why does a building with 1000's of computers need to leave them on overnight EVERY. NIGHT. This is what i experience at work. This isn't just a waste of money, it's a massive drain on our resources. And no, the computers don't automatically go into hibernation mode, they drop down to idle and just sit up with a screensaver. Maybe the monitor is turned off because an employee is conscious of the waste of power, but ...more »

  Why does a building with 1000's of computers need to leave them on overnight EVERY. NIGHT. This is what i experience at work.

  This isn't just a waste of money, it's a massive drain on our resources. And no, the computers don't automatically go into hibernation mode, they drop down to idle and just sit up with a screensaver. Maybe the monitor is turned off because an employee is conscious of the waste of power, but still we're required to leave our computers on 24/7.

  Scheduled updates could occur at the same time every night and auto-shutdown if it's not in use. This isn't exactly a huge burden. Make it 3-4 hours after the standard end-of-business, and only auto-shutdown computers that aren't logged into.

  Millions of taxpayer dollars and the environment will thank us

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  9 comments for Idea: Turn off non-essential computers at night

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Federal Employee Video Testimony

  Routinely the DOJ and US Attorneys Office will subpoena Federal employees to testify in cases outside of the employee's geographical work area. These cases can often be cross country in nature as currently my office on the West Coast is working to find funding to send an employee to the East Coast for under one hour of general background testimony. A cross country flight and hotel for less than one hour of general ...more »

  Routinely the DOJ and US Attorneys Office will subpoena Federal employees to testify in cases outside of the employee's geographical work area.

  These cases can often be cross country in nature as currently my office on the West Coast is working to find funding to send an employee to the East Coast for under one hour of general background testimony.

  A cross country flight and hotel for less than one hour of general testimony. This is our Government at work. A Government which is under a CR yet we continue to spend on travel when there is no need.

  We can do much better by having the involved employee sworn in at the local US Courthouse and testify or provide affidavit by video conference. Extensive and immediate cost savings.

  This is applicable to all agencies and bureaus to include but not limited to; BOP, CBP, CPSC, DOJ, FBI, DHS, HSI, HUD, ICE, IRS, NOAA, USDA.

  http://files.ali-aba.org/thumbs/datastorage/lacidoirep/articles/PLIT0909-Lederer_thumb.pdf

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  12 comments for Idea: Federal Employee Video Testimony

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Block Facebook

  Many people waste incredible amounts of time on Facebook. Since almost nobody needs it as a tool to do their job, the solution seems simple: block Facebook so that employees cannot connect to it. Without some mechanism to prevent it, huge amounts of time will continue to be wasted, and many people seem to feel it is an entitlement. This needs to change.

  9 comments for Idea: Block Facebook

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  90 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Add solar power to military and federal buildings!

  My building in the military had one that powered the HVAC and the hot water. We were always very comfortable and it was not at the expense of taxpayers beyond installation. What made this good was that we were a 24/7 function. We need more of these where it pays to add them and they should be made in America!

  10 comments for Idea: Add solar power to military and federal buildings!

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Top Heavy Organizations

  Too many high level positions have been and continue to be created, with little to no oversight regarding their need. The primary mission of some agencies seems to be how many of our friends can we move into high level positions and not how best to get the mission accomplished. The only way to cure that is to specifically CUT the allocation of high level positions...meaning GS13 and above. No grandfathering, etc. to be ...more »

  Too many high level positions have been and continue to be created, with little to no oversight regarding their need. The primary mission of some agencies seems to be how many of our friends can we move into high level positions and not how best to get the mission accomplished. The only way to cure that is to specifically CUT the allocation of high level positions...meaning GS13 and above. No grandfathering, etc. to be allowed, and limit save pay to ONE YEAR.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Stop moving the military!

  What is the point of moving the military members every three to four years? If someone wants to stay in an area, let them. It will save a huge amount of money AND time (i.e. training time, checking in, etc.). If people want to move, switch them one for one. Otherwise, let people stay where they are!

  8 comments for Idea: Stop moving the military!

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  GET RID OF GSA AS A LEASING AGENT

  This old dinosaur of an agency has outlived its usefullness. It provides terrible customer service and they charge a large fee. Let them compete with the private sector. When we were allowed to get our own leases, we could do so quickly and usually cheaper than having GSA get in the way.

  6 comments for Idea: GET RID OF GSA AS A LEASING AGENT

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Allow Travelers to Purchase Flight Tickets on Thier Own

  Many many thousands of dollars on my remote campus alone could be saved per year if travelers were allowed to purchase their own airfare and be reimbursed after travel by presenting a receipt for the cost. Tickets normally may be purchased privately for at least half of the cost of the least expensive available govt. ticket. Under current travel regs, we must purchase fully refundable higher fare tickets, unless a ...more »

  Many many thousands of dollars on my remote campus alone could be saved per year if travelers were allowed to purchase their own airfare and be reimbursed after travel by presenting a receipt for the cost. Tickets normally may be purchased privately for at least half of the cost of the least expensive available govt. ticket. Under current travel regs, we must purchase fully refundable higher fare tickets, unless a nonrefundable fare is AT LEAST 40% cost savings over the full fare price. If the savings is 40% or more, the tickets must be purchased within 24 hrs or the reservation is canceled. In some cases, as in the situation of a continuing resolution, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to get a lower fare ticket.

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  10 comments for Idea: Allow Travelers to Purchase Flight Tickets on Thier Own

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Electronic Leave Slips

  Many offices still use paper Leave Request slips. This wastes paper, printer cartridges, man hours, and storage space. These paper forms are also frequently misplaced, whereas digital forms are easily saved. Draft a policy requiring that offices start using electronic leave slips.

  8 comments for Idea: Electronic Leave Slips

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  72 votes

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  Make Telework Mandatory for eligible positions

  1. Saves energy in America.

  2. Saves roads / extends their life

  3. Less energy consumed in office space

  4. Focus for projects

  5. Improved morale

  6. More agile workforce able to work offsite during contingencies

  14 comments for Idea: Make Telework Mandatory for eligible positions

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Utilize the Site

  Mandate that the top 100 ideas at a minimum are forwarded to the involved agency executive for review and comment. There are an extensive amount of valuable ideas here that may not score number one. It would be tremendous waste of effort if those below number one were not reviewed for consideration. We all have an idea or two here, we all put effort into this, what a waste if the ideas were simply deleted. Mandate ...more »

  Mandate that the top 100 ideas at a minimum are forwarded to the involved agency executive for review and comment.

  There are an extensive amount of valuable ideas here that may not score number one. It would be tremendous waste of effort if those below number one were not reviewed for consideration. We all have an idea or two here, we all put effort into this, what a waste if the ideas were simply deleted.

  Mandate that they are reviewed and not thrown out with the trash.

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  6 comments for Idea: Utilize the Site

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  68 votes

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  Share savings with employees as motivation

  Create bonus structures tied to agency goals.

  Example: Share budget saving with employees. If agency ABC comes in under budget, share 5% of that amount with employees in the form of a bonus.

  There are disconnects between agency initiatives, and the reality of how they are achieved. Rewards should be tied to the bottom line, not the short sighted initiative.

  2 comments for Idea: Share savings with employees as motivation

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  65 votes

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  Unproductive employees

  Develop a quick and effective method for getting rid of unproductive employees! Management tries all sort of solutions to help employees, but some can't or don't want to be helped. Management just end up ignoring the problem employee (for years) and finding some spot to bury them.

  9 comments for Idea: Unproductive employees

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  65 votes

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  Discipline and Remove Bad Managers

  I can't tell you how many bad federal managers I've had who've skated through multiple grievances (which they lost), "gotcha" management styles, egregious incompetence and rampant employee abuse, and gone on to promotions and bonuses and a long federal career in management. Mandate management discipline, including loss of management position, bonuses and future employability as a manager until they can prove they've ...more »

  I can't tell you how many bad federal managers I've had who've skated through multiple grievances (which they lost), "gotcha" management styles, egregious incompetence and rampant employee abuse, and gone on to promotions and bonuses and a long federal career in management.

  Mandate management discipline, including loss of management position, bonuses and future employability as a manager until they can prove they've corrected all those bad traits. Mandate that every lost grievance be added to their OPF / performance record. Remove bad managers, the number one reason for waste, fraud and abuse in the federal system.

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  8 comments for Idea: Discipline and Remove Bad Managers

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  63 votes

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  Push (REEL) Mowers for Inmates

  A solution to save on fuel costs would be for Institutions to use push mowers instead of gasoline operated mowers. Not only does the government save money for fuel and maintenancer, but inmates are afforded health benefits by pushing the mowers, maintaining their physical fitness. Additionally, the environmental impact is aided in less carbon emisions. The cost of a gas powered mower is around 3 to 4 times what a manual ...more »

  A solution to save on fuel costs would be for Institutions to use push mowers instead of gasoline operated mowers. Not only does the government save money for fuel and maintenancer, but inmates are afforded health benefits by pushing the mowers, maintaining their physical fitness. Additionally, the environmental impact is aided in less carbon emisions. The cost of a gas powered mower is around 3 to 4 times what a manual push mower would cost. Also, the maintenance for a manual push mower is 10% of maintaining a gas powered mower.

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  11 comments for Idea: Push (REEL) Mowers for Inmates

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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