Biden touts administration's cost-cutting record

Vice President Joe Biden boasted on Thursday of the Obama administration's record of cutting waste and trimming unnecessary spending, even as the president remains locked in contentious negotiations with Republicans in the hunt for even more spending reductions. The vice president made his pitch in an op-ed written for McClatchy Newspapers.

Biden broke no new ground in the article, but its timing serves to underscore President Obama's message that he is serious about making government run more efficiently and at less cost. "We're focusing on how we can cut waste, get the most from taxpayer dollars, and reform how the government works so you, the American people, get the best service possible," wrote Biden.

Last month, Obama put Biden in charge of a "Campaign to Cut Waste," which the vice president on Thursday said would make sure that "tax dollars are not wasted on government programs that are ineffective, duplicative or just plain unnecessary."

Citing the ongoing talks, Biden added, "As the president and I continue to work with Congress to address the federal deficit, we will need to make many tough decisions. We will need to cut programs and consolidate efforts across government."

The vice president also boasted about an aggressive effort to combat possible fraud in the spending of stimulus funds and a reform of federal contacting practices. "We have cracked down on improper payments, like when the government sends a check to the wrong person, in the wrong amount, or for the wrong reason," he wrote. "This includes millions of dollars sent to prisoners, and even dead people."