Republicans in Congress plan to fight improper government spending by setting up an independent commission to look into the matter.
The Daily Caller reports that the House Committee on Appropriations wants to help the government slash improper payments made by government agencies. Those include overpayments, paying the wrong entities, and payments made for the wrong reasons.
Federal News Radio reported in January that $144 billion in improper payments were made in 2016, an increase from $137 billion the year prior. Almost two-thirds of the 2016 overpayments were made for Medicare and Medicaid programs.
"Taking a hard look at federal spending to find and reduce improper payments would save taxpayers $700 billion over the course of 10 years," reads a budget document from House Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn.
The independent committee would look to cut improper payments by 50 percent within five years.
The White House dedicates a page on its website to improper government payments, with several links to pieces of legislation, presidential actions, and other information posted.
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