Today, the Washington Examiner reported that the federal government sent out $115 billion dollars in over payments. While this number to the rest of us is staggering, it is only a fraction of what the government projects to be the actual number in overpayments.

With nearly half of overpayments originating in Medicare or Medicaid, it is an obvious place for waste to be eliminated. The Examiner reports that the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee has opened a probe into federal misspending, with long reach. With no clear restrictions on what the subcommittee can investigate, it is likely that there will be numerous government projects where overpayment has occurred.

Though $115 billion is no laughing number, it could have been worse. The Obama administration slashed nearly $20 billion in their Campaign to Cut Waste. Should the congressional probe be as successful as President Obama’s, we can expect some great results.

BA