The concept of 'slush-funds' has resulted in well-documented
inefficiencies and failures. There were even accusations made that
funds were withheld from certain members as a way of forcing them
into submission. It seems that the era of the 'slush funds' has been
a shameful period."
But even is the most orderly and lawful administration, funds are
liable to be mislaid. "The Economist" reported recently about a $10
billion class-action suit filed by native-Americans against the US
government. The funds, supposed to be managed in trust since 1880 on
behalf of half a million beneficiaries, were "either lost or stolen"
according to officials.
Rob Gordon, the Director of the National Wilderness Institute
accused "The US Interior Department (of) looting the special funds
that were established to pay for wildlife conservation and
squandering the money instead on questionable administrative
expenses, slush funds and employee moving expenses".
Charles Griffin, the Deputy Director of the Heritage Foundation's
Government Integrity Project, charges:
"The federal budget provides numerous slush funds that can be used
to subsidize the lobbying and political activities of special-
interest groups."
On his list of "Top Ten Federal Programs That Actively Subsidize
Politics and Lobbying" are: AmeriCorps, Senior Community Service
Employment Program, Legal Services Corporation, Title X Family
Planning, National Endowment for the Humanities, Market Promotion
Program, Senior Environmental Employment Program, Superfund Worker
Training, HHS Discretionary Aging Projects, Telecomm.
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