Community Member

Member since 2 years ago

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13 ideas posted

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Department/Agency:

US Army

City:

Washington, DC

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• Government Reform for Competition and Innovation Ideas

Ideas contributed by Community Member

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Parents pay some costs for special ed kids

  When a child has a mental or learning disability and needs 2 adults with him/her all day at school, the parents should pay for some of that additional cost. Assessments need to be made as to the value of the person will contribute to society and fund based on that. A company hires adults with learning disabilities that clean the bathrooms and collects the trash. They are working and contributing. However, some won't ...more »

  When a child has a mental or learning disability and needs 2 adults with him/her all day at school, the parents should pay for some of that additional cost. Assessments need to be made as to the value of the person will contribute to society and fund based on that. A company hires adults with learning disabilities that clean the bathrooms and collects the trash. They are working and contributing. However, some won't be able to do that so why try to fund their education like they will go to college. Sounds draconian and it is not really that bad but means testing needs to be done for special needs education.

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  3 comments for Idea: Parents pay some costs for special ed kids

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  18 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Lower Govt Rates for Hotels Per Diem

  Mandate a Govt Travel Rate for hotels by simply lowering the per diem for places. Hotels want business and will take it so lower the hotel per diem and regulate that via the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Mandate Govt Rates for hotels

  Government Rates should be a fraction above break-even! How many times have we gone to a hotel and asked the rate and the govt rate is more expensive than the regular rate? Govt Rates at Hotels are set to mee the per diem rates. I can get cheaper rates using AAA or USAA so I do. Businesses charge higher rates for hotels because they know travelers don't care because they will get repaid.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  11 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Tax Government Housing Assistance (Sec 8)

  I rent a house to a person on Sec 8 Housing Assistance. I have to pay taxes on that portion of the housing assistance paid to me by the govt but she does not. It is a payment to her and should be taxed at some rate. It would force people to make more money and spend less of stupid stuff like cigarettes or alcohol when they cannot pay there bills.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

• I agree

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  5 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Restructure Post 9/11 GI Bill in 2014

  The wars will be over. it will no longer be needed as a recruitment/retention tool. We are drawign down the force and few will be deployed. MAJORITY will be a deterent for what that is worth. It is unaffordable as currently applied.

  1 comment for Idea: Restructure Post 9/11 GI Bill in 2014

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

• I agree

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  5 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Eliminate GI Bill transferability for Officers

  All officers have to have Undergrad degree for promotion to CPT. Therefore, they will only transfer eligibility to spouses or children. Officers, over time in the military, will make enough and raise kids to attend college. The GI bill should be pointed to enlisted who generally cannot afford it or spend more time away from kids. They serve and sacrifice the most. The elimination of the GI bill for officers would ...more »

  All officers have to have Undergrad degree for promotion to CPT. Therefore, they will only transfer eligibility to spouses or children. Officers, over time in the military, will make enough and raise kids to attend college. The GI bill should be pointed to enlisted who generally cannot afford it or spend more time away from kids. They serve and sacrifice the most. The elimination of the GI bill for officers would nto save alot but it would help retention of officers to retire. If not eliminated, then only make it a benefit at 20 years.

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  5 comments for Idea: Eliminate GI Bill transferability for Officers

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  3 votes

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  Link transferability of GI Bill to only those that deploy.

  Many, way too many, service members have not deployed while too many have deployed for 2-3 and sometimes 4 time. An Army deployment is 1 year, Marine is 6 months and Air Force was 4 months and now getting to 6mo-1 yr. Navy is 6 months.

  Why should someone who never spent time away from family or face dangers of combat get same benefits!! Link it to deployment in order to transfer eligibility to service members.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  6 votes

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  Automated Equipment Replacement cycle

  Goverment has to come up with a better system to manage and replace automation. It seems monitors and computers are replaced every 2-3 years - needed or not!! If it still works and meets the needs of the user, then keep it. I understand it will need to be replaced at a certain time due to upgrades or just outdated but 2-3 years is probably too soon - especially for monitors.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  7 votes

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  Eliminate the Military Athlete Programs

  How many Military athletes have won medals? 2 in the last winter olympics. The bang is nto there. These athletes, while gifted, are not advertised and thus not relevent. If they are Military, they perform military duties. if they want to be athletes, then go that route in the private sector. There is no advertising, not even public knowledge these programs exist.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  5 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Government DTS only rent Hybrid Cars

  Government TDY should only allow Hybrid rentals unless none available and then only with statemen of non-availability.

  1 comment for Idea: Government DTS only rent Hybrid Cars

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Limit profit of Companies providing service contracts

  Recommend placing a cap onthe profit for companies such as LMI, Mantech, Dyncorp for contracts. While, yes companies must make money and pay employees and cover costs, why should they make 10%+ on contracts? They absolutely should cover their expenses and then be limited to 2% profit. This will still enable them to provide the same contracted service and not lose money while not taking extra money from the government. ...more »

  Recommend placing a cap onthe profit for companies such as LMI, Mantech, Dyncorp for contracts. While, yes companies must make money and pay employees and cover costs, why should they make 10%+ on contracts? They absolutely should cover their expenses and then be limited to 2% profit. This will still enable them to provide the same contracted service and not lose money while not taking extra money from the government.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

• I agree

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  18 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Charge fee for Smithsonians and Independance Hall/Liberty Bell

  Independence Hall & Smithsonians are currently free. These are HIGH visit museums. The govt could charge $1 per person with students/Seniors free. $1 per person is not much at all but the generated income would be HUGE. Recommend $1 for Independance Hall/Liberty Bell and $5 for Smithsonian pass for ALL museums on DC mall for 3 day period. Yes, it will cost to hire people

  3 comments for Idea: Charge fee for Smithsonians and Independance Hall/Liberty Bell

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

• I agree

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  5 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Update DTS to reflect Hybrid cars

  Add a selection in DTS for Hybrid cars. Currently, mileage is based on a standard car that gets lower mileage than hybrids. Alot people are and will increasingly buy hybrids. Currently, hybrid drivers are getting reimbursed for mileage of a standard car and not what their hybrid achieves - thus getting more money back for gas than they spend. While this will not be much in the big scale of things, it will increase ...more »

  Add a selection in DTS for Hybrid cars. Currently, mileage is based on a standard car that gets lower mileage than hybrids. Alot people are and will increasingly buy hybrids. Currently, hybrid drivers are getting reimbursed for mileage of a standard car and not what their hybrid achieves - thus getting more money back for gas than they spend. While this will not be much in the big scale of things, it will increase over time and provide real cost avoidance.

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  1 comment for Idea: Update DTS to reflect Hybrid cars

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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