Scouring the government to save some loose change

[February 15, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Buckets of white paint are being put to use against the government's red ink.

President Barack Obama's pile of budget papers does not just propose big-dollar savings in spending programs. It's got an assortment of nickel-and-dime ideas, too.

One, from the State Department, is to paint the roofs of embassies white to keep inside temperatures cooler and cut air conditioning bills. Estimated savings: a little over $1 million a year worldwide. The department has reworked its roofing requirements to favor white paint or at least light gravel when possible in new construction at embassies and its buildings in the U.S.

At the Agriculture Department, it occurred to someone that the Food Safety and Inspection Service was wasting money by paying for express shipping for empty containers. To be sure, the agency needs to move samples quickly to the laboratory and pays for next-day delivery for that.

But getting the empty containers back? Not so urgent. The agency expects to save $350,000 next year by switching to ground shipping for the empties.

This is the government's equivalent of beating the couch cushions for loose change. Ideas to save money came from employees in various departments as well as administration leaders who drew up the $3.7 trillion budget.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it will save $4 million in 2012 by reducing travel and using video-conferencing instead. Customs and Border Protection hopes to save $1 million by advertising seized and forfeited property online instead of in newspapers.

As in the past, the administration wants to get rid of a collection of scholarships and exchange programs that may no longer serve a useful purpose, if they ever did.

One problem: Members of Congress can be protective of such projects in their districts. Especially, perhaps, when scholarships carry the family name of a member of Congress.

The Obama administration, like the Bush administration before it, wants to eliminate the B.J. Stupak Olympic scholarships, which provide $1 million for athletes training at U.S. Olympic centers -- including Northern Michigan University in the district of the program's sponsor, Bart Stupak, now retired as a Democratic congressman. The program is named for Stupak's late son.

The Education Department says it lacks evidence that the scholarships are effective and there are other ways for talented athletes to get help.

Also like the Bush administration, Obama is out to eliminate the $42 million Byrd Honors Scholarship, doled out to some 7,000 elite high students a year as they begin undergraduate study. Officials say such high achievers don't need this scholarship to get into college.

It's named after Robert C. Byrd, the West Virginia senator who fiercely fought any attempt to shortchange his state. Byrd died last year and it remains to be seen whether the government will have more luck eliminating the scholarship now.

[Associated Press; By CALVIN WOODWARD]

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