General Feed
Earmark Lists
Posted by Demian Brady - July 01, 2009
Excel spreadsheets were made available today of earmarks included in three House bills:
House Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, H.R. 2996 (as passed by the House on June 26, 2009)
House Homeland Security Appropriations Act, H.R. 2892 (as Passed by the House on... Read more
National Taxpayer Advocate's Mid-Year Report
Posted by Demian Brady - July 01, 2009
The Office of the IRS's Taxpayer Advocate released a report laying out its objectives for the next year (available as a pdf). One section that caught my eye was how the number of refundable credits created by the "stimulus" bill will present challenges to the IRS:... Read more
The Power of Coffee
Posted by Kristine Tuinstra - July 01, 2009
This morning, while sipping my coffee, I read this article recounting yesterday’s mishap. New York State Senator Frank Padavan walked through the Senate chamber in search of a cup of coffee. It just so happened that it was at the exact moment when 31 Democrats were convening a regular session. They argue that Padavan’s presence provi... Read more
ObamaCare Losing Steam
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 30, 2009
Well, it seems that the gig is finally up on ObamaCare as more and more Americans begin to voice their concerns about a move towards socialized medicine. Along with questions about how a government-run health care system would preserve patient satisfaction and quality of treatment, there is a growing consensus that public provision of insurance would lead employers to drop employee health care plans and drive private insurers out of the market, ... Read more
Fiscal Advice from Jack Handey
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 30, 2009
With billions and billions for bailouts and stimulus spending, Congress seems to have taken fiscal advice from that renowned financial expert Jack Handey: "I hope that when I die, people say about me, 'Boy, that guy sure owed me a lot of money.'"
... Read more
No Matter How you Spin it- A Tax Hike is a Tax Hike
Posted by Kristine Tuinstra - June 29, 2009
Governor Deval Patrick said Friday that he will sign more than $1 billion in tax increases for Massachusetts residents. The House and Senate approved the tax increases last week- increasing the sales tax for the first time in a generation. The new tax rate, which goes into effect August 1, will in... Read more
What Was in the Cap & Trade Bill?
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 29, 2009
Last Friday, House Minority Leader John Boehner took a "couple" of minutes to question some of items in the manager's amendment -- the 300+ page amendment to the 1,200 page bill. I will buy an ice cream for the first person who can answer all of Boehner's questions.
Watch below or read the transcript here.
... Read more
Cap-and-trade passes House narrowly
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 26, 2009
The Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill that we've been lobbying so hard against just narrowly passed the House, by a 219-212 margin.
Attention now turns towards the Senate, where the intensity will only ratchet up. In particular, the two Senators Nelson (Democrats of Nebraska and Florida), Martinez (R-FL), Landrieu (D-LA), both Senators from Arkansas Lincoln and Pryor ... Read more
Highlights from the States
Posted by Doug El Sanadi - June 26, 2009
#1: California's budget crisis continues.
#2: Metro crash may facilitate federal funding.
#3: New Jersey legislators passed a budget that will hike taxes by almost $1 billio... Read more
Mark my words: cap-and-trade undecideds will get MILLIONS in earmarks.
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 26, 2009
I just posted a list of the remaining undecided votes on Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation, a.k.a. a $2 trillion energy tax.
I just want to put something on record, right here, right now. If the Democrat leadership is successful in forcing 8 out of the 12 undecideds to vote for the bill, it will be because they promised MILLIONS in earmarks to the Members.
Democrat leaders are on the floor right this minute, as I type this, trying ... Read more
Down to the wire!
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 26, 2009
The cap-and-trade debate is really coming down to the wire. My sources have the current count at 210 FOR, 210 AGAINST, with 14 remaining undecided (12 of which are Democrats).
The undecideds are...
Arcuri - NY
Boccieri - OH
Brown - FL
Carney - PA
Dicks - WA
Donnelly - IN
Green, Al - TX
Kind - WI
Kirk - IL (Republican)
Kirkpatrick - AZ
Petri - WI (Republican)
Space - OH
Teague - NM
Tonko - NY
Email them ... Read more
Understand What Is at Stake
Posted by Demian Brady - June 26, 2009
Lest anyone forget, here is Obama in his own words on his cap-and-trade plan: "Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket."
... Read more
More good news! 1,200 page bill is now 1,500 pages.
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 26, 2009
The Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill that NTU has been hammering away on all week is now miraculously 300 pages longer than before. The new language was added to the bill at about 3:00am this morning, and the House is expected to vote TODAY!
There is very little time left to make your voice heard on this. Take a minute, click the link above, and send them an email p... Read more
Senate Approps for Commerce/Justice/Science Up 12 Percent
Posted by Demian Brady - June 26, 2009
The Senate Appropriations Committee is working on the FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies funding bill. The legislation calls for $64.9 billion, $200 million above the President's request. This is also an increase of 12 percent over the amount enacted last year.
... Read more
Congress Intent on Ignoring the $1.8 Trillion Deficit
Posted by Demian Brady - June 25, 2009
According to White House budget figures, federal departments and agencies will be responsible for directing $267 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act over 2009-2010. This bill included a lot of programs that members of Congress had been trying to enact in previous legislation to no avail, but earlier this year they just had to argue the funding would "stimulate the economy," and voila, now they're law. Well that's not entirely ... Read more
An Image from Today's Health Care for America Now Rally
Posted by Elizabeth Terrell - June 25, 2009
Notice how the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) made "UNTAXED" the largest word on these t-shirts. The logo was also printed on the hats these attendees were wearing.... Read more
NTU Vote Alert: Vote "NO" on Waxman-Markey!
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - June 25, 2009
NTU sent the following vote alert to the entire House of Representatives today:
*****************************************************************************************
NTU urges all Representatives to vote "NO" on H.R. 2454, the Waxman-Markey "American Clean Energy and Security Act." This "cap-and-trade" legislation constitutes a mammoth $2 trillion energy tax hike on top of existing burdens and would crush our already-ailing econo... Read more
Obsolete, outdated, wasteful? Let's keep it!
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 25, 2009
In all the frenzied action over big-ticket items like a $2 trillion energy tax and government-run health care, the appropriations process seems to have disappeared from the media map. That's unfortunate because the appropriations process is how we fund our government. In that process, there are dozens and dozens of opportunities to cut wasteful spending, most of which are glossed over or ignored completely.
Well, yesterday, freshman ... Read more
Robert Reich's "public option" deceptions
Posted by Ross Kaminsky - June 25, 2009
Although this note may seem similar in content and intent to my note yesterday about Barack Obama's outrageous news conference, Robert Reich's Wednesday WSJ plea for government-run health care deserves an equal smack-down.
Reich's entire article is filled with ... Read more
Delaware Taxpayers: Tell Your Representatives to Hold the Line Against Tax Hikes!
Posted by Joshua Culling - June 24, 2009
Last week, politicians in Dover attempted to sneak $50 million in tax hikes through the Legislature. Thankfully, Republicans in the House sniffed out these regressive, job-killing “sin” taxes and held the line in opposition. However, it looks like the tax hike bills are back on the table, and you need to urge your lawmakers to continue to say NO to any tax increases!
House Bills 210, 211, and 212 would increase taxes on alcohol and ciga... Read more
ObamaCare: Far worse than economically ignorant
Posted by Ross Kaminsky - June 24, 2009
In a news conference yesterday, Barack Obama demonstrated a remarkable ignorance of and antipathy for free markets and free enterprise when speaking about the possibility of a “public option” as part of “health care reform.”
It’s not easy for Obama to surprise me but the vacuousness of his statements combined with their casual disregard for the power of government when “competing” with private companies was truly shocking.
According to an A... Read more
Taxpayer March on DC!
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 23, 2009
The National Taxpayers Union, along with coalition partners fighting for smaller, more transparent government, will be expanding the "Tea Party" movement and participating in a march on the capital (perhaps the Capitol?).
So mark your calendar - beginning the 10th of September, come join NTU, our fellow taxpayer advocacy groups, myriad speakers and fiscally-responsible congressmen in Washington, D.C. for an event like none other.
Check out ... Read more
Good news! 1,200 page bill with $2 trillion tax hike being jammed through Congress.
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 23, 2009
Stop me if you've heard this story before...
Nancy Pelosi and other folks in House Leadership are attempting to jam a 1,200 page bill through Congress in a surprise move. This beauty contains a $2 trillion tax increase. That's two trillion, with a T, or more than $6,600 for every man, woman, and child alive in America today.
We've been ... Read more
Survey Shows Deep Concern Over Obama's Deficits
Posted by Demian Brady - June 23, 2009
In a recent L.A. Times survey of 1,001 Americans, 90 percent of respondents "are worried to some degree about the exploding federal spending deficit, a galactic number certain to gain politicians' attention on both sides."
And this is before health care reform.... Read more
That's the Unions for You
Posted by Demian Brady - June 23, 2009
In many states, the unemployment rate is reaching or exceeding 10 percent. People who want to work, can't find a way to earn a paycheck. But in NYC, around 700 teachers get paid for nothing. They get to pass the workday playing scrabble, or if it their prerogative, simply staring at a wall. According to AP, many of these teachers are in trouble ... Read more
A Little Good News
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 22, 2009
A little change of pace from our regular fare. NebraskaStatePaper.com has the story of Robert "Lindy" Lenhart, age 90, who recently received his World War II medals, including a Bronze Star for combat service, a combat infantry badge, and campaign victory medals. The reporter closes the story with this paragraph:
The importance... Read more
NTU Helps Roll Out Sunset Caucus
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 19, 2009
NTU staffers pose at Sunset Caucus rally.
On Wednesday June 17, 2009, several NTU staffers helped roll out the Republican Study Committee's brand new "Sunset Caucus... Read more
Man Made Drought in California
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 19, 2009
Sean Hannity recently aired an ... Read more
Updates from the States
Posted by Doug El Sanadi - June 19, 2009
#1: Californians consider a flat tax.
#2: State government revenues from personal income taxes fall by $28.8 billion.
#3: Texans lower business taxes.... Read more
Stop a Sneaky Tax Hike in Delaware
Posted by Joshua Culling - June 18, 2009
Click here to take action!
The federal government is committed to showering the state of Delaware with hundreds of millions of dollars in "stimulus," bailing out politicians intent on perpetual and unsustainable spending growth. Yet those same politicians in Dover insist that the only way to dig the state out of recession is to increase taxes, ignoring decades of evidence to the contrary.
The Del... Read more
Taxing the Top
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 18, 2009
Our friend, Curtis Dubay, over at the Heritage Foundation recently published a paper on the potential economic consequences of this Administration’s tax policies. His paper, entitled “Income Tax Will Become More Progressive Under Obama Tax Plan,” highlights President Obama’s 2010 budget and how it will significantly increase the tax burden on upper-income taxpayers and millions of small business owners over the next decade. Additionally, Dubay ... Read more
Fair and Balanced?
Posted by Jordan Forbes - June 17, 2009
It looks like President Obama will get even more prime-time to promote his political agenda on network television. It has been reported that ABC will turn its programming over to the President on the night of June 24 for a special - 'Prescription for America' - that will center on the Administration's controversial health care plan. The one-hour telecast will be set up as a town-hall discussion, with a question and answer portion of the program; ... Read more
Now IRS Wants to Repeal Cellphone Tax
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 17, 2009
According to the Wall Street Journal:
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman on Tuesday asked Congress to repeal the 20-year-old law to ensure that neither companies nor workers will be subject to taxes for employees' personal use of work cellphones.
The request is a turnabout from last week, when the IRS proposed measures to improve enforcement of the la... Read more
Google Quotation of the Day
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 16, 2009
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. - Thomas Jefferson... Read more
Trouble at AmeriCorps
Posted by Demian Brady - June 15, 2009
By any rational standard of acceptable roles of government, AmeriCorps, the federal "paid volunteer" program, is itself a huge waste of money. But AmeriCorps' own inspector general, Gerald Walpin, found examples of abuse within the program that even meet the federal government's definition of waste. Feathers were ruffled on the board that oversees AmeriCorps. Then last week, Mr. Walpin got a call from the Special Counsel to the President for Eth... Read more
More "Monuments to Me"
Posted by Demian Brady - June 15, 2009
Andy Roth at the Club for Growth blogged about an effort to ban "monuments to me" in appropriations bills this year. These are earmarks for programs named for politicians, such as the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center.
NTU Foundation frequently comes across proposals to create or fund such monuments in our review of legislation for ... Read more
Novel Idea
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 11, 2009
Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska, a first-termer who has shown real promise thus far into his tenure, is introducing the Free Enterprise Act. It contains a simple (and terrific) idea: requiring Congressional approval for release of TARP funds that would end up with government owning shares of a business. Too bad Congress didn't think of that when drafting TARP, huh?
Johanns, BTW, wasn't around when that abomination was passed, and he's been ... Read more
Misery in New Jersey
Posted by Joshua Culling - June 11, 2009
From the New Jersey Taxpayers Alliance:
According to a new index unveiled Tuesday by the New Jersey Taxpayers Association (NJTA) New Jersey is the most miserable of states as it pertains to a rapidly growing tax burden and debt, runaway spending and soaring unemployment.
The group's new metric - the Misery Index - reveals New Jersey's misery has grown by nearly 25 percent since 2005, the year before Governor Corzine took office, ... Read more
IRS Considering Cell Phone Tax
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 11, 2009
The Wall Street Journal reports that "The IRS is weighing a proposal to deem one-quarter of employees' use of work cellphones as personal use and therefore subject to tax as a fringe benefit." Give it a read, and then make sure the next that you call home that you use a landline.
... Read more
Nationalized Medicine Threatens Women's Health
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 10, 2009
The fact that the current health care system in America leaves some people uninsured is an accepted one. No one is denying that each year the inability to access medical care results in missed diagnoses and preventable deaths. But nationalizing health care in order to cover all US citizens, á la the plans of the current administration, would only necessitate the rationing of treatment, further reducing the number of patients receiving adequate a... Read more
C-SPAN Blogging
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 10, 2009
Just caught a few minutes of Illinois Senator Dick Durbin speaking about health care reform on the Senate floor. You have to give Durbin credit. He can weave together a straw man with the best of them. This morning he was challenging Republicans who are opposed to the health care bill to come to the floor and defend the insurance companies because Republicans want "no change" in the current system. (On a tangent, I wonder who is more popular ... Read more
TARP - A Big (Really, Really Big) Mistake
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 10, 2009
An appropriately titled column ("The $787 Billion Mistake") on TARP at Forbes.com.
... Read more
Representative Pitts Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 10, 2009
Monday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan and Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp presented Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Pitts’ eighth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Representative Westmoreland Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 10, 2009
Tuesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan and Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp presented Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Westmoreland’s fourth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Oh Canada
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 09, 2009
Dr. David Gratzer, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, has a troubling piece on the Canadian health care system in today's Wall Street Journal. Earlier this morning New York Senator Chuck Schumer was on on the floor of the Senate saying that a "public option" in health care reform legislation was to be a check on private insurance companies because no o... Read more
Transparency Has Arrived in Colorado
Posted by Joshua Culling - June 08, 2009
Last Thursday CO Gov. Bill Ritter signed HB 1288, which will implement an online searchable database of all state government revenues and expenditures. Taxpayers in Colorado will now have easy access to detailed information about how their money is being spent. The Governor should be commended for embracing the bill and abandoning his previous proposal, a considerably w... Read more
"Bailout" for Transportation Agencies?
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 05, 2009
CQ.com is reporting the following: "Passenger rail and bus advocates are pressing conferees on the war supplemental bill to include a Senate-passed provision that would allow public transit agencies to spend some of their stimulus dollars on operating expenses, instead of capital improvements." According to the article, transit agencies received $8.4 billion in stimulus funds.
Does this not sou... Read more
Representative Price Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 05, 2009
Thursday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan and Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp presented Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Price's third award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Representative Culberson Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 05, 2009
Thursday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan and Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp presented Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Culberson's s second award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Representative Foxx Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 05, 2009
Thursday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan and Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp presented Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for her consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Foxx's third award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Representative Barrett Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 05, 2009
Thursday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan and Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp presented Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Barrett's sixth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Senator Enzi Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 05, 2009
Tuesday, President Duane Parde and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan presented Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Sen. Enzi's eighth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Senator Kyl Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - June 05, 2009
Tuesday, President Duane Parde and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan presented Senator Jon Jyl (R-AZ) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Sen. Kyl's fourteenth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Shocking: Sugar Cartel Opposes Sugar Imports
Posted by Demian Brady - June 05, 2009
In a previous blog post, Jeff Dircksen wrote about cartels working to raise barriers to competition. That reminded me of a press release I saw earlier this week from the American Sugar Alliance with this headline:Study Sh... Read more
The Tax Code is Soooo Complicated...
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 05, 2009
How complicated you might ask? It's so complicated that in the future only specially approved experts will be able to interpret it for the masses. Rather than seeking ways to make the Tax Code less complicated and less burdensome to comply with, the IRS is considering requiring paid tax preparers to be licensed by the government, according to the Wall Street Jour... Read more
Bartlett Jumps on the VAT Bandwagon
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 05, 2009
Forbes.com columnist Bruce Bartlett has jumped on the "we need a VAT" bandwagon with a piece that has this subhead "A money machine that conservatives shouldn't oppose." Bartlett writes:
The irony is that the VAT is probably the ideal tax from a conservative point of view. As a broad-based tax on consumption it creates le... Read more
Earmarks: Diverse and Resilient
Posted by Demian Brady - June 04, 2009
Andy Roth at the Club for Growth and NTU's Jeff Dircksen each noted a few of the pork projects in the House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee's official list of earmarks. Here's more frui... Read more
Murtha Earmark Project to Live On
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 04, 2009
The National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown, PA, which has been at the center of earmark controversies involving Congressman John Murtha will live on. Last month The Hill reported that the Obama administration supported the program and was working to find it a "permanent funding source." While it might no... Read more
Federal Truck Stops
Posted by Demian Brady - June 04, 2009
I was unaware that the government spends $6.5 million on truck parking facilities which are in competition with private truck stops. This was one of the items proposed for elimination in a document released today by House Republicans.
As Tad DeHaven of CATO points out, the cuts... Read more
Reid Cracks the Whip
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 04, 2009
From the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned senators todayto expect a "very long hard work period" in July, with the chamber expected to plunge into debate on legislation overhauling the nation's health care system.
Typically, the heaviest work days on Capit... Read more
US House Office Expenses To Be Posted Online!
Posted by Keith Capp - June 04, 2009
Back in February, NTU produced a short YouTube video calling on the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the US House of Representatives to post House spending reports online. Yesterday, Speaker Pelosi wrote to the CAO requesting that he post House office expense reports online! The CAO’s office has stated that the expense reports will be posted by August 31 in PDF fo... Read more
NTU's Pete Sepp on Fox Business Network
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - June 03, 2009
NTU Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp appeared on Fox Business Network's "America's Nightly Scoreboard" last night to discuss what individual states pay in federal taxes compared to how much they get back in federal spending.
... Read more
Looking Out for Our "Investment"
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - June 03, 2009
Following on Ross's post from yesterday regarding Government Motors, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin wants to protect "our" investment. From CQ.com:
"I have some concerns about things that have been expressed in bankruptcy courts, and I’m going to explore those," Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin told reporters, referring t... Read more
Back to the...uhh...Past
Posted by Andrew Moylan - June 02, 2009
I recently blogged about a new health care proposal introduced by Senators Coburn and Burr and Representatives Ryan and Nunes. While it was promoted as a conservative alternative to government-run health care proposals emanating from the left, one of the most prominent health experts on the free-market side of the world raised some serious questions. Michael Cannon, an... Read more
Government Motors
Posted by Ross Kaminsky - June 02, 2009
For those of you interested in my view on GM's bankruptcy and the future emergence of Government Motors, please see my article at HumanEvents.com. (My agreement with Human Events does not permit me to post the text of the article here.)see “GM Bankrupt: Obama Takes Over", Ross Kaminsky, HumanEvents.com, 6/1/09 http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32085... Read more
$200 Million to Save the Republic ... from Bed Bugs!
Posted by Demian Brady - June 02, 2009
Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) has sponsored the Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite Act. The bill would create a four year $200 million Bed Bug Inspection Grant Program.
Seriously, you can't make this stuff up.... Read more
Tax Collectors Unite!
Posted by Demian Brady - June 02, 2009
The OECD has a report titled "Tax collectors worldwide to co-operate in revenue-raising to offset fiscal deficits."
A a two-day meeting, tax commissioners also discussed ways that the advanced countries "can help emerging economies to improve tax-collecting capacity and capabilities which will enhance the fiscal capacity of their govern... Read more
A Magical Ferry Land
Posted by Demian Brady - June 02, 2009
The government has quite a track record in transportation. The feds have been losing money in the train business for years and is currently busy branching out into the auto industry. What else could the government do to help us get from one place to another? Rep. Rick Larsen and Sen. Patty Murray (both Democrats from the state of Washington) have introduced the United States Ferry Systems Investment Act (... Read more
NTU Confirms John Stossel to Speak at 2009 Conference
Posted by Jordan Forbes - June 01, 2009
We are thrilled to announce that award-winning news correspondent John Stossel will speak at our June 11-13 National Taxpayers Conference in Washington, DC. A co-host for ABC’s 20/20, Stossel has received 19 Emmy Awards and has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club.
Stossel remains an influential advocate for smaller go... Read more
Nevada Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto
Posted by Joshua Culling - June 01, 2009
Gov. Jim Gibbons took a principled stand against a $781 million tax hike passed with the help of some squishy GOP Senators last month, vetoing it promptly. Needing a two-thirds vote to override his veto, five Senate Republicans broke ranks with the supposed party of small government and ... Read more
Gov. Brewer Spends $$$ to Lobby for Tax Hikes
Posted by Joshua Culling - June 01, 2009
Arizona is staring down a $3 billion budget deficit, and has until the end of this month to sort it out. Taxpayers, once cheering the departure of Janet Napolitano to Washington, are stuck with Gov. Jan Brewer (R) as her replacement.
I've written about tax-hiking GOP governors before, but neglected to add Brewer to the list. She has bee... Read more
New Automobile Voucher Act
Posted by Demian Brady - June 01, 2009
Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) introduced the New Automobile Voucher Act of 2009. Under the bill, vouchers worth $5,000 would be redeemable toward the purchase of a new car. The program would be run by Treasury. Price tag of the legislation: $75 billion.
This tops Sen. Feinstein's "Cash for Cl... Read more
Quinncome Tax Hike Fails in Illinois
Posted by Joshua Culling - June 01, 2009
Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed 50 percent income tax hike failed in the House yesterday by a healthy 32 vote margin. Under Rod Blagojevich, politicians in Springfield spent themselves into an $11.6 billion hole. Rather than deal with state government's perpetual frivolity, Quinn chose to soak the taxpayers.
Perhaps the only good thing to come out... Read more
Highlights from the States
Posted by Doug El Sanadi - May 29, 2009
#1: Minnesotans brainstorm about repairing the ruins.
#2: How the recession impacts firefighters.
#3: ... Read more
Health Care Alternatives
Posted by Andrew Moylan - May 29, 2009
Our good friends at the Cato Institute posted an update on the Coburn-Burr-Ryan-Nunes health care proposal. Cato’s health care guru Michael Cannon discussed what the bill would entail:
•Mandate that states create a new regulatory bureaucracy called a "State Health Insurance Exchange,"
•Mandate that all p... Read more
Cartoon Blogging
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 29, 2009
HT: TaxGuru
... Read more
States Fight Back Against EFCA and Card Check
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 29, 2009
Our friend Brian Johnson at the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) has posted an update on the grassroots effort to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Sixteen state legislatures have introduced resolutions opposing the measure, with eight of the resolutions having passed at least one chamber.
EFCA, als... Read more
Free Our Health Care
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 28, 2009
Check out this Free Our Health Care Petition. Because remember boys and girls, when health care is "free" you're going to be paying out your nose for it.... Read more
I Guess He's Not All Bad
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 28, 2009
It'd be tough to call British PM Gordon Brown a free market crusader. But bully to Gordon Brown for penning this fabulous column in the Wall Street Journal in which he argues:
There can be no recovery in the global economy without a revival of world trade. Trade was the driver of postwar recovery in Japan, Germany, the rest of Europe and the U.S., ... Read more
"Sin" Taxes Hurt Sinners and Saints Alike
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - May 28, 2009
NTU State Government Affairs Manager Josh Culling breaks down so-called "sin" taxes -- small, targeted excise taxes on goods such as cigarettes and alcohol -- in the June 2009 issue of Townhall Magazine. Lawmakers in many of the 45 states facing budget shortfalls through fiscal year 2010 are eyeing sin taxes as a politically convenient way to raise the most revenue f... Read more
An Open Letter to the Vermont Legislature: Cigarette Taxes Are No Way Out of the Budget Hole
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 28, 2009
March 28, 2009
Dear Legislator:
On behalf of the taxpayers and small business owners of Vermont, over 1,000 of whom belong to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), I urge you to oppose any increase in the cigarette tax. As our 360,000 members in other states can attest, such a proposal is the exact opposite of what Vermont needs in the midst of a painful recession. The Legislature’s 25-cent-per-pack tax increase and Gov. Douglas’ 45-cent-per... Read more
NTU Podcast: The Taxpayer's Turn
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - May 28, 2009
In this week's RedCounty.com podcast, "The Taxpayer's Turn," we discuss the $2 trillion climate tax making its way toward the House floor. Listen below:
... Read more
What do to when no one likes your $3.2 billion tax hike plan
Posted by Kristina Rasmussen - May 28, 2009
If you're Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, you propose an even BIGGER tax hike!
That's right -- after taxpayers said "no way" to Quinn's $3.2 billion income tax hike plan, he comes back with new proposal to take $4 billion from families and businesses.
... Read more
An Open Letter to NV GOP Senators: Uphold Gov. Gibbons' Veto of Tax Increases
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 27, 2009
The following letter was sent to Sen. Minority Leader Bill Raggio and four other GOP Senators who broke ranks with the party and voted for a $781 million tax increase in Nevada. Gov. Gibbons will veto the tax increases tomorrow, but we need four of the five Republicans who voted for the tax increase to reverse course, or the veto will be overturned.
****
May 28, 2009
Sen. William Raggio
Nevada Senate
401 South Carson Street, Room 216... Read more
Tax Foundation on NJ Gubernatorial Tax Plans
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 27, 2009
The New Jersey gubernatorial primary takes place next Tuesday, and there is plenty of work to be done to get the state's economy back on track. Joe Henchman at the Tax Foundation has authored analyses of the tax plans of current Gov. Jon Corzine as well as those of GOP candidates Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan.... Read more
The Ethics of Layoffs
Posted by Demian Brady - May 27, 2009
Randy Cohen, the New York Times' staff "ethicist," has a piece today examining the morality of mass layoffs. The gist is that since employees are dependent upon their employers, companies that downsize have an obligation to ensure that federal assistance programs are "robustly funded." If Caterpillar is to relegate legions of employ... Read more
Retroactive Tax Hikes in Some States
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 26, 2009
Forbes.com has a troubling piece on states that raised taxes retroactively. Here are the opening paragraphs:
So you've filed your 2008 tax return and were hoping you wouldn't have to talk to (or pay) your tax accountant for a while. Bad news: If you live in California, New York or Hawaii, you might n... Read more
"Soak the Rich" Taxes Hitting MD Middle-Class
Posted by Keith Capp - May 26, 2009
What was the result of Maryland’s tax increase on those making over $1 million a year? Maryland is taking in considerably less tax revenue then the legislature projected! The Wall Street Journal writes: One-third of the millionaires have disappeared from Maryland tax rolls. In 2008 roughly 3,000 million-dollar income tax returns were filed ... Read more
This Week's NTU Web Poll
Posted by Keith Capp - May 26, 2009
Take NTU’s short web poll on the best state transparency websites!Here are the links to the state transparency websites: KansasMissouri... Read more
Discounted Conference Hotel Rate Extended to May 29
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - May 26, 2009
The discounted room rate of $169 for National Taxpayers Conference 2009 has been extended to this Friday, May 29. Be sure to take advantage of this deal soon -- register for National Taxpayers Conference 2009 and contact the Hyatt Regency Crystal City (... Read more
My Representatives are Lousier Than Your Representatives
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 26, 2009
Our pals across the pond are riled up by the corruption of their Members of Parliament. If you want to feel better about the folks you elected (or are just really into schadenfreude) be sure to check out this clip of MP Andrew MacKay's constitutents take him to task at a town meeting after it came to light that he and his wife (another MP) abused their h... Read more
Our Problem Is Our Solution Isn't Enough Like Our Problem
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 23, 2009
Well, we are out of money now. We are operating in deep deficits, not caused by any decisions we've made on health care so far. This is a consequence of the crisis that we've seen and in fact our failure to make some good decisions on health care over the last several decades.
So we've got a short-term problem, which is we had to spend a lot of money to salvage our financial system, we had to deal with the auto companies, a huge r... Read more
Who Elects These People?
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 22, 2009
Last night Congress had a vote on funding John Murtha's personal DC shuttle (paid for, by you, to the tune of $200 million). And I know this is going to shock you, but they voted to keep shoveling your tax dollars (an "aye" vote is to cut off funding) on an ai... Read more
Rep. Jordan Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 21, 2009
Today, V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (left) and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (right) presented Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Jordan's second award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Senator Bunning Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 21, 2009
Wednesday, President Duane Parde presented Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Sen. Bunning's seventh award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Senator DeMint Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 21, 2009
Tuesday, President Duane Parde (left) and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (right) presented Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Sen. DeMint's ninth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Blackburn Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 21, 2009
Tuesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for her consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Blackburn's fifth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Nunes Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 21, 2009
Tuesday, V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (left) and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (right) presented Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Nunes' first award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Marchant Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 21, 2009
Tuesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Marchant's first award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Sensenbrenner Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 21, 2009
Tuesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and Federal Government Affairs Manager Jordan Forbes (right) presented Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-WI) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. Rep. Sensenbrenner has collected a very impressive 17 awards!
Congratulations.
... Read more
NTU Podcast: The Taxpayer's Turn
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - May 21, 2009
Pete and I discuss the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 in NTU's weekly RedCounty.com podcast, "The Taxpayer's Turn." Airline passengers could be subject to an additional $2 billion per year in taxes. Listen below:
... Read more
Medicare and Colonoscopies, an example of National Health care?
Posted by Keith Capp - May 21, 2009
Do you wonder what is going to happen if we have a nationalized health care plan like Medicare and Medicaid? Well, most likely it will lead to cuts in covered procedures or stifle the growth of new forms of treatment as the health care program attempts to control costs. Recently the Wall Street Journal wrote, All this is merely a preview of ... Read more
"The best fiscal news out of California in 30 years"
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 21, 2009
That's what the Wall Street Journal says about Tuesday's special election results. What happened roughly 30 years ago in the Golden State? The passage of Proposition 13, which capped property taxes, insti... Read more
There They Go again XXXII
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 20, 2009
Another in an ongoing series intended to highlight the actions of legislators/governmental officials/bureaucrats/do-gooders who want to expand the nanny state in an attempt to improve your life.
According to the New York Daily News:
Senate Democrats want to impose ... Read more
California Voters Voice Outrage
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 20, 2009
The results are finalized in California, and taxpayers finally took a stand. Propositions 1A through 1E were soundly defeated last night. Here's a rundown:
Proposition 1A would have been the most damaging to taxpayers, as it would extend tax hikes on sales, income, and vehicles for two years, to the tune of $16 billion. It was disguised as a spendin... Read more
California Voters Either Apathetic or Angry
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 19, 2009
Californians go to the polls today to vote on a package of budget measures consisting of a variety of tax hikes and debt increases. Proposition 1A is the most serious measure, as it would impose a $16 billion tax hike on Californians, masked by a weak spending limit.
It's just before 2:00 out West, and according to the LA Times, voter turnout has... Read more
House Marks Up Cap & Trade Bill
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 19, 2009
The House Energy and Commerce Committee's mark up of H.R. 2454, the cap and trade bill, is currently on hold while committee members vote on the floor. The mark up will continue after the floor votes are concluded. Why not take advantage of this break and let your Members of Congress know how you feel about cap & trade? Speak out on behalf of taxpayers today!
... Read more
Epstein on "Vigorous" Antitrust
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 19, 2009
University of Chicago law professor Richard A. Epstein has a piece at Forbes.com on Christine Varney's ,the new Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, push for "vigorous" antitrust enforcement. It's worth a read.
... Read more
The Climate Collaborators
Posted by Ross Kaminsky - May 18, 2009
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and socialist “climate adviser” Carol Browner recently met with members of the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), companies who are angling for “free” CO2 emission permits for themse... Read more
"By The Time the Great Depression Hits We're in Trenton, NJ"
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 16, 2009
Yet another great way to illustrate the spending spree we experienced over the past nine years (and certifiable orgy of spending we've experienced over the past five months). It's the great generational theft roadtrip:
... Read more
Education Secretary on "Listening Tour"
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 15, 2009
Here's something I never thought that I would write in this space: thanks NEA! This week's NEA Education Insider reports that "U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has embarked on a cross-country 'listening tour.'" Who knew? You can learn about the Secretary's trip to Detroit on the the Department's blog.
According to the Department's ... Read more
Ethanol Industry Struggling
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 15, 2009
MarketWatch.com has article detailing the financial woes of the ethanol industry. I found this observation interesting:
But the industry remains beholden to federal rules, which essentially forged the market through a combination of mandated production volumes, tax credits doled out to refiners, and high hopes that ethanol ... Read more
Cap & Trade -- Coming Soon to Your Wallet
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 15, 2009
According to the New York Times:
House Democrats have reached agreement on several key pieces of a major climate change and energy bill, including a national renewable electricity standard, greenhouse gas emissions limits for 2020 and the distribution of valuable emissions credits to electric uti... Read more
McCain, Blackburn, Price & Moore
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 15, 2009
Senator John McCain, Representatives Marsha Blackburn and Tom Price, M.D., and Moore -- yes, Steve Moore -- will be speaking at National Taxpayers Conference 2009! You can check out the list of other great speakers here. Don't miss your chance to hear all of them!
National Taxpayers Conference 2009 will June 11-13, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel at Reaga... Read more
Don't Be a Flake?
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 14, 2009
Jack Murtha's ethics problems are legendary. The liberal group CREW has labeled him one of the 20 most corrupt members of Congress.
Murtha has also been the target of a string of recent ethics questions. The Washington Post has ... Read more
Senator Inhofe Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 14, 2009
Today, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and President Duane Parde (right) presented Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. Sen. Inhofe has won this award 11 times.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Bachmann Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 14, 2009
Today, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for her consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Bachmann's second award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Shadegg Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 14, 2009
Today, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. Rep. Shadegg has won this award 13 out of 14 times!
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Hensarling Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 14, 2009
On Tuesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. Rep. Hensarling had the 5th highest rating among House Members and collected his fifth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Royce Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 14, 2009
On Tuesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. Rep. Royce has won this award 15 times out of his 16 years in Congress!
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Linder Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 14, 2009
On Tuesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. John Linder (R-GA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Linder’s 4th award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
NTU Podcast: The Taxpayer's Turn
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - May 14, 2009
If the Trustees of Medicare sound an alarm in the forest (or halls of the Capitol) and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Time will tell -- but not much time, as Pete and I discuss in this week's NTU podcast on RedCounty.com, "The Taxpayer's Turn." Listen below for more:
... Read more
John McCain to Speak at National Taxpayers Conference
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 13, 2009
Senator John McCain will speak on Friday, June 12th, at National Taxpayers Conference 2009. McCain, who has won multiple Taxpayers Friend Awards from NTU, will speak during Friday morning's opening session. More information about Taxpayers Conference 2009, visit our ... Read more
Perdue Follows in the Footsteps of Republican Failure
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 13, 2009
With a large number of states considering tax hikes to balance their budgets, I looked at Georgia as a state with an opportunity to pass real pro-growth legislation. Rep. Tom Graves introduced the JOBS Act, which would have cut the capital gains tax in half and phased out the corporate inco... Read more
What's the Upside to Keeping You Alive?
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 12, 2009
We conservatives often debate national health care (or socialized health care, if you prefer) by talking about increased costs, reduced quality of care, waiting lines, and lack of freedom. And those are all good arguments against nationalizing the health care system.
Today in the Senate Finance Committee, however, Prof Stuart Altman reminded us of the most important reason to oppose government health care: When Uncle Sam is picking up the ta... Read more
A Soda Tax? What will they think of next?
Posted by Keith Capp - May 12, 2009
It has a different name depending on where you are. If you are in Wisconsin its soda, in other states pop, and in the South its Coke. Regardless of its name you might be paying more for the can of soda, if you want a cold beverage on a hot summer day. US Senate leaders are considering creating a new federal tax on sodas and other sugary drinks to fund the Democrats and Obama’s expansion of health care. The ... Read more
CA deficit projections continue to climb
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 12, 2009
Gov. Schwarzenegger told the Legislature on Monday that the budget deficit could reach $21.3 billion. News flash: It "could reach" a number much higher than that, as some estimates have put the future shortfall at $60 billion.
Voters will be asked to approve more tax increases in a May 19th special election, which will take a small bite out of the deficit, putting it at $15.4 b... Read more
Taking a short drive or stopping on the way home. . . .
Posted by Keith Capp - May 12, 2009
In March 2008, I blogged about the sales tax increase in Chicago (Cook County, IL) and the potential savings someone could make by just driving North through Lake County, IL and up into Kenosha, WI. Well, it turns out I was right about what was going to happen. Poor residents are repressively taxed because it is difficult for them to shop in the suburbs. Small busines... Read more
J to the C on Hawaii Taxes
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 11, 2009
I had the misfortune of being sent on a business trip to Honolulu two weeks ago (HA!). While there, I sat down with Tom McAuliffe of the Grassroot Institute to talk about tax policy in the Aloha State. You can find the podcast here.
... Read more
Reserve Your Room Today!
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 11, 2009
National Taxpayers Conference 2009 will be June 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City right outside Washington, DC. We've secured great room rates from the Hyatt (singles and doubles for just $169 a night; triples for $194, and quads for $219), but those great rates end May ... Read more
A reason for holding corporate income abroad
Posted by Keith Capp - May 11, 2009
Saturday, the Chicago Tribune had a great editorial about the original reasoning behind allowing corporations to defer taxes on overseas revenue. Here is an excerpt from their editorial:
Most countries don't tax their companies' foreign profits -- and most hav... Read more
Staggering Stat of the Day
Posted by Demian Brady - May 11, 2009
From ABC News:For the current year, the government would borrow 46 cents for every dollar it takes to run the government under the administration's plan.... Read more
What Comes Next?
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 11, 2009
I was at my local car dealer this morning watching Fox News when they reported that the federal budget deficit is expected to top $1.8 trillion. A gentleman on the sales floor asked one of the salesmen, "What comes after a trillion?" Well, here's the mathematical answer -- a quadrillion. The taxpayer answer -- higher taxes, much higher taxes.
... Read more
Rep. Mack Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 11, 2009
Last Thursday, V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (left) and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (right) presented Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Mack's first award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Broun Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 11, 2009
Last Thursday, V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (left) and Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (right) presented Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. Finishing third among House Members, Rep. Broun received his first award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Flake Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 11, 2009
Last Thursday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. Rep. Flake received the number 1 rank among House Members, scoring a 98%. This is his eighth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Stearns Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 08, 2009
On Wednesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (center) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Stearn's seventh award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Deal Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 08, 2009
On Wednesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Deal's fifth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Rep. Garrett Presented with Taxpayers' Friend Award
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 08, 2009
On Wednesday, Director of Government Affairs Andrew Moylan (left) and V.P. for Communications Pete Sepp (right) presented Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) with NTU's Taxpayers' Friend Award for his consistent support of lower taxes and limited government. This is Rep. Garrett's sixth award.
Congratulations.
... Read more
Google & Healthcare Costs
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 08, 2009
Was just reading an article about Google's annual shareholder meeting and noticed this:
The other proposal, in support of universal health, was made by Brandon Rees, representing the AFL-CIO labor union and was also voted down.
While noting Google and other big U.S. companies, such as IBM, McDonald'... Read more
No Pats on the Back Yet
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 08, 2009
President Obama promised us he's going to make "hard choices" to cut waste out of the federal budget. I'll give him a gold star for wanting to make a tough choice. But did he?
Head budget honcho Peter Orszag unveiled $17 billion in proposed cuts to the f... Read more
Someone who gets it: Mike Johanns
Posted by Andrew Moylan - May 07, 2009
Time and time again, earmarks have gotten Members of Congress into trouble. Some have ended up in jail, some have been voted out of office, some have been disgraced (but remain in office). Despite all of that, many Members of Congress and many Republicans continue to ask for earmarks. Those people don't get it.
Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), a freshman, gets it. He has... Read more
Medical Records Held for Ransom
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - May 07, 2009
Last month I blogged about an article at Forbes.com on electronic medical records. This was the opening sentence to the Forbes article: "Digitizing medical data is easy. Using it to improve care will be hard." Apparently, stealing them might be easy too. According to ... Read more
The Administration's Savings Proposals
Posted by Demian Brady - May 07, 2009
The Administration has finished its "line-by-line review" of the government and has proposed to cut $17 billion -- 1/2 of 1 percent -- from the FY2010 $3.4 trillion budget. One hopes this was just a first run through, perhaps hastily done because of staffing shortages.
A 113-page document with further information is available as a pdf.
By contrast, Bush... Read more
Would the government pass a stress test?
Posted by Kristina Rasmussen - May 06, 2009
Check out the results.
... Read more
Getting Paid to do Nothing
Posted by Christy Paavola - May 06, 2009
In a time when thousands of people are losing their jobs each week, some teachers in Los Angeles are literally being paid to do nothing. The L.A. Unified School District is spending roughly $10 million a year to pay 160 teachers to sit around while it is being determined whether or not they are fit to teach. This is the same dist... Read more
SC Senate Democrat Leader: Cigarette Tax Hike "Wastes Money"
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 06, 2009
We've been on record against the 714 percent cigarette tax increase in South Carolina, and now the top Democrat in the Senate has joined us. John Land, the Senate Minority Leader, will not support the tax increase... Read more
HI Gov. Lingle Invites Public to Veto Ceremony
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 06, 2009
Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle has invited the public to a ceremony at the State Capitol tomorrow celebrating her veto of a variety of tax hikes recently passed by the Legislature. A release from the Governor's office:
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle is inviting members of the public to join her at the State Capitol Rotun... Read more
New Book about the Tea Party Movement
Posted by Demian Brady - May 06, 2009
Bruce Bexley has written The Tea Party Movement: Why It Started, What It's About, and How You Can Get Involved.The book is a defense of the Tea Party movement. I trace its historical and ideological foundations, refute the movement's detractors, and suggest where the protests might lead.Available on ... Read more
I Give it a Week
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 06, 2009
After this, how long before Snarlin' Arlen makes a dramatic speech about how he became an Obama Democrat but since then the Democrat party has moved too far to the left and became intolerant of moderates? ... Read more
Spending Transparency on the Way in Colorado
Posted by Joshua Culling - May 05, 2009
It's been a long, hard fight, but HB 1288 has passed in Colorado. An email from Rep. BJ Nikkel, the bill's sponsor:
House just gave final passage to HB1288. 65-0 the amendments simply wrapped the Exec
Order into the bill while retaining the substance of my bill language. We also
dropped the fiscal note to 0 because of tying it into the EO.
We at NTU are proud to have played a role in seeing this bill through to Gov... Read more
Obama's "Tax Havens" Proposal: Fresh Hell for American Businesses
Posted by Natasha Altamirano - May 05, 2009
NTU Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp released the following analysis today of Obama's plan to shut down so-called "tax havens":
President Obama's proposal to shut down or cut back what he calls "tax havens" is aimed at the wrong target during the worst possible time.
America's tax system already inflicts a great deal of harm on busine... Read more
Lofty Revenue Projections Lead to Budget Shortfalls
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 05, 2009
Ohio’s State Budget Director Pari Sabety held a press conference this morning delivering news that Ohio may have a $600-900 million budget shortfall with less than two months left in the fiscal year.
One might trace a portion of this shortfall back to February, recalling the 62-cents-a-pack federal tax hike, in hopes to increase revenue. It seems that just the opposite has occurred. A $129 million ... Read more
Sign the CITIZEN Pledge!
Posted by NTU Gov't Affairs - May 05, 2009
Our Tertium Quids friends in Virginia are promoting a great effort:
___
Sign Tertium Quids' "RAISE MY TAXES - LOSE MY VOTE" pledge, make a strong statement to the politicians, and get your free bumper sticker!
TMG members,
At Tax Day Tea Parties in Charlottesville and Richmond Wednesday, Tertium Quids announced its new grassroots campaign to return the citizens of Virginia to their rightful role as Sovereigns (remember We ... Read more
Why Sir? Why?
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 04, 2009
That's what DC parents ask President Obama in this ReasonTV video on the Obama administration's decision to kill the DC voucher program that's helped a couple thousand kids get a good education, improve test scores, and go to the same schools as the President's children:
... Read more
NTU Vote Alert: Housing Bill Amendments
Posted by Andrew Moylan - May 04, 2009
******************************************
National Taxpayers Union Vote Alert
NTU urges all Senators to vote “YES” on Amendments #1016 and #1026 to the Housing Bill, S. 896. Offered by Senators Vitter and DeMint, respectively, these amendments would add some sorely needed taxpayer protections to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which has been a miserable failure so far.
Senator Vitter's Amendment #1016 would simply allow banks ... Read more
No more bailouts, Br'er Durbin?!?
Posted by Ross Kaminsky - May 04, 2009
Last week brought a rare victory for the free markets and the sanctity of private contracts: By a 51-45 vote, the Senate defeated a measure championed by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois) which would have allowed judges to reduce the principle amount of a mortgage on a primary residence during a bankruptcy proceeding. Twelve Democrats, including Arlen Specter, voted against the plan.
The idea was typical Democrat fare, representing a c... Read more
Goodbye Jack Kemp
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 03, 2009
Last night former Congressman and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp passed away after a battle with cancer. Kemp was one of the great leaders of our time. He was the architect of the first Reagan tax cuts and was a tireless advocate for tax reform, school choice, free trade, and enterprise zones.
Kemp wasn't just a politici... Read more
Real Solutions in Nevada
Posted by Andrew Moylan - May 01, 2009
Much of the time, fiscal conservatives are forced to play defense to protect taxpayers from an ever-expanding government. That's why it's nice to see a group taking the initiative to put forward their own, positive solutions. The Nevada Policy Research Institute has done just that. They put together "Nevada's Freedom Budget", an alternative budget in... Read more
Don't Turn America Into Another France
Posted by Andrew Moylan - May 01, 2009
Our friends at the Center for Freedom and Prosperity and Reason.TV have put together this terrific video warning of the dangers of the French model....
The economic model, not their first lady. She's not so bad.
... Read more
An Ominous Warning from GAO
Posted by Demian Brady - May 01, 2009
From The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook March 2009 Update:The longer that action to deal with the federal government's long-term fiscal outlook is delayed, the greater the risk that the eventual changes will be disruptive and destabilizing.... Read more
About that Moderate Health Care Plan...
Posted by Dominic Rupprecht - May 01, 2009
During the campaign, then-candidate Obama said he offered a middle course on health care between evil right wingers and the Hillary/Canada cabal. Well, thanks to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), now we know the President's plan is a straight shot to socialized health care.
... Read more
Remember Obama's "tax cut"? Well, the IRS is going to want some of that back.
Posted by Demian Brady - May 01, 2009
AP: Taxpayers to get rude surpriseMillions of Americans enjoying their small windfall from President Barack Obama's "Making Work Pay" tax credit are in for an unpleasant surprise next spring.
The government is going to want some of that money back.
The tax credit is supposed to provide up to $400 to individuals and $800 to marrie... Read more
TweetIllinois.org Launched!
Posted by Kristina Rasmussen - April 30, 2009
Today, the Illinois Policy Institute, the state’s leading free market think tank, announced the launch of TweetIllinois.org, a website designed to encourage better communication between legislators and constituents.
Tweet Illinois echoes the format of a successful national site, ... Read more
NTU Vote Alert: Oppose Senate Cramdown, FDIC Borrowing Bills
Posted by Pete Sepp - April 30, 2009
The National Taxpayers Union distributed the following Vote Alert to all Senators earlier today:
NTU urges Senators to vote “NO” on S. 896, the so-called “Helping Families Save Their Homes Act,” as well as S. 895, the mortgage “cramdown” legislation that will likely be offered as an amendment.
In a report on House legislation that embodied many concepts of S. 895, the Congressional Budget Office noted that “Economists and bankruptcy expert... Read more
Cartoon Blogging
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - April 30, 2009
HT: TaxGuru
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Quote of the Day
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - April 30, 2009
The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink. -- George Orwell
... Read more
New NTU Poll: Tax Reform Choices
Posted by Jeff Dircksen - April 30, 2009
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