Page 195 – Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Venezuela’s Dictator Stole from this Company. Now, America’s Government is Stopping Justice From Being Served

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:July 21, 2020
Post category:International

Since the sad days of the Chavez regime, the Venezuelan people have had to deal with wanton expropriations and confiscation of their hard-earned property. Dictator Hugo Chavez would tour Caracas, the capital city, pointing his finger at stores and buildings directing his staff to take them over from their rightful owners. Thousands of companies both small and large, foreign and Venezuelan, were wiped out of existence as the Venezuelan government took them over and ran them to the ground. Finally, one of the victims of the robberies of Venezuela’s late dictator Hugo Chavez—mining company Crystallex—is getting its day in court. But the U.S. Treasury Department is standing in its way. For the sake of property rights across the globe, the Trump administration must allow justice to be served.

Phase 4 Relief Must be Targeted to Struggling Americans

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:July 20, 2020
Post category:Congress

After months of delay, deliberation and debate, the next COVID-19 relief package is purportedly just around the corner. The problem is, no one can agree what should be in it or how much more spending of taxpayer dollars is warranted. For example, to many Democratic lawmakers, bailing out the United States Postal Service is an appropriate undertaking (even though the agency is staying above water for the time being). Meanwhile, Republicans are eyeing measures such as broad-based liability protections and financial incentives for reopening schools.

Watchdog Slams Government for Undermining Property Rights

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:July 17, 2020
Post category:International Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) criticized the Trump administration for siding with the Venezuelan government against a mining company seeking restitution for property theft. In 2019, the Third Circuit ruled that mining business Crystallex is entitled to the assets of Venezuelan government-owned company CITGO after the Venezuelan government’s seizure of Crystallex’s assets in 2011. Despite this ruling, the U.S. government filed a legal motion on July 16 arguing that the assets of Venezuelan government-owned CITGO should be shielded from Crystallex.

Watchdog Praises Georgia Gov. Kemp for Surprise Billing Reform

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:July 16, 2020
Post category:Healthcare Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) praised Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) for signing into law HB 888 (the “Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act”). This measure is designed to protect patients who receive a “surprise medical bill” in the mail days or even weeks after being discharged from a hospital. The legislation prohibits medical providers from charging patients directly, and instead allows doctors and insurers to settle unresolved bills via an independent arbitration system. Under this model that has bipartisan support, a neutral third-party would carefully evaluate the claims submitted by both sides and decide on a reasonable reimbursement rate.

On Tax Day, Taxpayers Continue to Pay for Wasteful Spending

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:July 15, 2020
Post category:Taxes

It’s Tax Day…in July. Instead of just sweating from the weather, taxpayers are also sweating tax filing and payment deadlines. Taxpayers have more on their plate than ever before as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make it difficult to hold down a job and earn a decent living. And, as the country grapples with the worst public health crisis in 100 years, taxpayers are being asked to foot an historically large bill from the federal government. The deficit this year has already exceeded $3 trillion and is approaching an astounding $30,000 per household. Unfortunately, this sky-high spending is just the tip of the iceberg for an out-of-control federal government.

The 2018 tax filing season is upon us. With all of the changes affecting taxpayers under the new tax law, you are encouraged to seek self-help resources and/or professional assistance with understanding and filing your taxes this year. (U.S. Army photo illustration by Thomas Hamilton III)

This Tax Day, taxpayers need relief and reform, not higher rates

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:July 14, 2020
Post category:Taxes

This is the second installment in a two-part series examining taxes as we approach Tax Day on July 15. This upcoming Tax Day is a unique one, and not just because it’s well … in July. Taxpayers are busily filing and paying their taxes just four months before a presidential election that may radically shift the amount of taxes every American pays

This Tax Day, politicians should avoid costly protectionist proposals

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:July 13, 2020
Post category:Taxes

This is the first installment in a two-part series examining taxes as we approach Tax Day on July 15. Just in time for Tax Day, former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden says he wants to bring "further immediate relief" to struggling Americans in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, his recently proposed policies would straddle taxpayers and consumers with higher costs at the worst possible time.

Precautionary principle punishes pandemic patients

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:July 9, 2020
Post category:International

Governments across the world have taken extraordinary measures to try and keep their citizens safe during the coronavirus crisis. Needless rules are being relaxed and regulatory bodies are keeping restrictions on masks and medical equipment to a minimum. Many of these efforts are hitting a brick wall, however, thanks to a pervasive, outdated misapplication of the regulatory philosophy known as the “precautionary principle.” Under this failed, albeit persistent, approach to rulemaking, bureaucrats often resort to a worst-case theoretical scenario and sketchy science unsupported by any actual evidence.

Global Coalition Urges Sound Science and Data to Drive Policymaking

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:July 9, 2020
Post category:Coalition International

On behalf of millions of taxpayers and consumers across the globe, this international coalition supports the use of sound science and data to drive policymaking. We stand in opposition to the misuse of the precautionary principle to stifle innovation and technological process. Over the past several decades, multiple countries across the developed world and International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) such as the European Union have embraced risk-averse policies based on systematically flawed decision-making processes. The undersigned groups have and will continue to highlight when countries and IGOs wrongly apply the precautionary principle to pressing public policy issues and unnecessarily jeopardize the availability of materials and products that provide consumer and societal benefits.

Lawmakers’ Military Earmarks Are Exploding Like Fireworks

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:July 8, 2020
Post category:Earmarks

It’s that time of year again, when lawmakers, Pentagon officials, and observers on the sidelines quibble over what should—and should not—be in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Two weeks after the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced their version of the 2021 NDAA, the House Armed Services Committee advanced their own NDAA. Passions have been high and policymakers have tried inserting everything from base naming requirements and stricter “Buy American” provisions to (much-needed) transparency changes.