WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance praised the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for authorizing the marketing of a tobacco heating system called “IQOS” as a “modified risk tobacco product.” As a result of the FDA decision, IQOS’ manufacturer can now provide information to consumers on the product’s reduced exposure to harmful, cancer-causing substances. The FDA made the decision after the producer demonstrated that, “because the IQOS Tobacco Heating System heats tobacco and does not burn it, it significantly reduces the production of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) praised the Trump administration for disclosing the names of the largest recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding. On July 6 (today), the Treasury Department released the names of PPP beneficiaries who were approved for at least $150,000 in forgivable loans. Reuters reports that a significant amount of PPP-related information is still being withheld from taxpayers, since the released data “accounts for roughly 73% of the dollars granted, but only 14% of the 4.9 million loans, according to a summary of data the agencies released initially on Monday.” In Congress, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) has proposed eliminating the $150,000 reporting threshold and requiring the disclosure of all PPP loan recipients to the public. TPA sent a letter to Congress on June 30 endorsing Porter’s legislation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance criticized legislation introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that would roll back pivotal liability protections for internet platforms. After a controversial markup the “EARN IT Act” (S. 3398) was advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 2nd. The bill originally conditioned continued Section 230 liability protections on digital platforms making an array of changes to their operations, including rolling back encryption protection for users, instituting age verification, and gating content to users based on age. While the Committee passed Sen. Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) amendment safeguarding encryption, age-related verifications and conditions in the bill would give bureaucrats broad latitude in denying liability protections to digital platforms. In addition, continued confusion over which state criminal and civil laws apply in the bill’s implementation will likely result in platforms having to read through users’ private communications.