From condoms to safety belts in automobiles to helmets to medication and clean syringes to products that decrease the harm of cigarette smoking, society has consistently sought to reduce the harm posed by risky behaviors, and or biological threats.
June 14th marks National Bourbon Day – a day to celebrate the drink that was “born on the American frontier,” and comes with a history that “reflects the nation invented it.” Indeed, the beginnings of “American whiskey” began long before the arrival of Europeans. In 7,000 BC, early Native Americans domesticated teosinte – “a weedy Mexican grass,” into corn, which is the main ingredient in bourbon. By 1783, Evan Williams would open the first bourbon distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is firmly opposed to the so-called “Patriot Tax” proposed by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.). The proposal would implement a new one-time tax on wealth, harming our economy and violating the Constitution.
Next week, based on multiple reports, the House Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust Subcommittee is expected to release and begin marking-up a package of five bills targeting the American tech sector. Right away, this narrow focus on changing the rules only for predominantly online firms reveals the misguided nature of the legislative package. The specifics of the bills aren’t any better, from arbitrary rules that will cause endless consumer headaches and security issues to empowering unelected bureaucrats to promulgate new rules that circumnavigate the legislative process and reshape our economy.
Just three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and rising stamp prices. Recently, the United States Postal Service (USPS) filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to hike the cost of first-class postage (e.g. your dear auntie’s letter) from 55 cents to 58 cents per piece. The increase, which would likely go into effect in late August, is part of a broader effort to increase rates on letters, magazines, and marketing mail by roughly 7 percent in order to shore up agency finances.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) sent a letter to U.S. Senators urging them to oppose the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. This bill, formerly known as the Endless Frontiers Act, would actually harm U.S. competitiveness abroad by implementing protectionist policies and doling out crony handouts to special interests.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) issued a warning about today’s ProPublica leak, a glaring lapse in data security, and called for an immediate investigation of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said emphatically that a “clear direction” on infrastructure needs to be in place by the time Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess on June 7th. If that is true, infrastructure week may become a reality. Leading up to June 7th, the White House and congressional Republicans are trying to hammer out an agreement. However, given the lack of progress thus far, it seems clear that despite bi-partisan talks, such a deal isn’t imminent and infrastructure week may yet again just be a figment of the imagination of the President. This is a shame, as many common sense solutions are entirely possible to fix our nation’s infrastructure without busting the budget or raising taxes.
As New York continues to grapple with public health challenges caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, including the tragic scandal related to the state’s handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, now seems like a strange time to introduce an intrusive and unscientific ban on a product which, even the bills supporters recognize, aren’t being used by youth, as were e-cigarettes.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is deeply concerned about the potential impacts of instituting the administration’s proposed global corporate minimum tax. Such a tax would drive businesses away from the United States and any other nation that signs on.
