TPA Congratulates President Biden, Expresses Concern Over Initial Executive Actions

For Immediate Release                  

January 20, 2021                                                

Washington, D.C. – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), a nonpartisan taxpayer and consumer watchdog group, congratulates newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden but is concerned that some of the President’s early executive actions run counter to his promises of unity and stability. TPA Vice President of Policy Patrick Hedger offered the following statement and analysis:

“After one of the more tumultuous experiences in recent political memory, it is important for all of us engaged in the policy and political space to work towards mutual respect. While we will not always agree with President Biden and members of his administration, we look forward to being able to offer praise when appropriate and keep our disagreements civil.

“Unfortunately, some of the first moves of the new administration do warrant criticism. President Biden has already committed to rejoining both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris climate agreement in addition to cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline. Each of these moves should require greater consideration and not hasty action.

“The WHO is a taxpayer-funded organization in dire need of top-to-bottom reform. From advancing policies that fly in the face of the science on issues like harm-reduction to the fact it remains compromised by the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, rejoining the WHO should require major concessions.

“Similarly, the Paris climate agreement’s structure is problematic at best. With the effect of a major international treaty, it ought to be debated in the Senate. There, senators can discuss the fact that the agreement requires the government in Beijing to honor significant obligations many years down the road. Ask the people of Hong Kong how that goes.

“Finally, the decision to block continued work on the Keystone XL Pipeline is reckless political posturing. The facts demonstrate that the pipeline is an economically and environmentally sound project. That a major private infrastructure project can have its approval yanked mid-construction simply because the political winds have shifted sends a catastrophic signal to investors which will ripple across all sectors of our economy as it attempts to recover from the pandemic.

“President Biden’s election was undoubtedly a cry for stability from the American people. It is disappointing to see that the welfare of taxpayers and consumers are being ignored on day one.”

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.