Page 199 – Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Watchdog Group Praises U.S. Withdrawal from World Health Organization

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:May 29, 2020
Post category:Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), a nonpartisan non-profit taxpayer and consumer advocacy group, strongly praised the decision of President Trump to terminate the United States’ membership in the World Health Organization (WHO). During a news conference today, President Trump announced the redirecting of all funding to alternative public health bodies, a move the TPA has directly and repeatedly called for.

Profile in Courage: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:May 29, 2020
Post category:Telecommunications

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai has been a Profile in Courage during this pandemic, helping millions of Americans stay connected as the economy teetered on the brink of collapse. But his courageousness and service to the American people began when Corona was just a beer and not a deadly virus. In 2017, Chairman Pai led the charge to unshackle the internet from the chains of outdated, onerous Title II regulations. Pai stood firm against an onslaught of sustained attacks from vested special interest groups opposed to these changes, and even had to deal with protestors repeatedly stalking and threatening him and his family. But his steadfast commitment to ending burdensome regulations set the stage for entrepreneurs and private providers to seamlessly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. From loosening the regulatory restrictions on the digital domain to aggressively moving toward a 5G future by selling and repurposing wireless spectrum, Chairman Pai has made it possible for people to work from home and remain well fed and entertained. The FCC is now poised to aggressively close the digital divide while also protecting taxpayers.

Watchdog Criticizes Anti-Free Speech Executive Order

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:May 28, 2020
Post category:Executive Branch Press

Jonathan Ernst | REUTERS WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), a nonpartisan non-profit taxpayer and consumer advocacy group, strongly criticized President Trump’s executive order seeking to regulate social media. The order would task the Federal Communications Commission (via instructions from the Commerce Department) with evaluating the purview of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms from liability for comments made by users on the site. It would also give Federal Trade Commission (FTC) bureaucrats the authority to investigate complaints against tech platforms.

TPA Executive Director Tim Andrews Interviews Members of Congress

Post author:Tim Andrews
Post published:May 28, 2020
Post category:Congress

TPA Executive Director Tim Andrews conducted interviews with four Members of Congress to discuss a variety of issues coming through Congress. Rep. Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Carter (R-GA), Rep. Budd (R-NC), and Rep. Buck (R-CO) presented their perspectives.

Coalition Releases Video Warning Against Healthcare Rate-Setting

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:May 27, 2020
Post category:Coalition Healthcare

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Coalition Against Rate-Setting (CARS) released a video featuring free-market analysts and activists urging lawmakers to reject healthcare rate-setting. The video’s release comes almost exactly one month after a letter signed by more than 160 economists warned that government interference in healthcare via price-controls “would hurt access to care, especially for patients in rural areas.” Despite these warnings, lawmakers such as Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) are considering capping doctors’ pay as a part of the next phase of Coronavirus-related relief legislation during a time when doctors and nurses are being lauded for their heroic work in treating COVID-19 patients.

No manners, no mask, no to your money

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:May 26, 2020
Post category:State Issues

There’s no shortage of quarantine — and mask — fatigue across the country. After two months of stay-at-home orders, folks are naturally weary of health and distancing rules, regardless of the rule makers. Recent media reports have focused on consumers angrily reacting to companies requiring face masks and sanctioning shoppers who fail to comply. In one viral video, a Costco consumer got his shopping cart taken away from him when he refused to wear a mask.

Profile in Courage: Bill Gates

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:May 22, 2020
Post category:Healthcare

Over the past 40 years, Bill Gates has worn many different hats. He’s the co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation and backer of countless philanthropic pursuits. Gates’ business acumen and unrivaled command of computer science have made him one of the world’s wealthiest people and he’s used that money to help out millions of people across the globe. Along the way he’s encountered plenty of challenges, including facing the wrath of Washington, D.C. regulators and bureaucrats when Microsoft was the target of antitrust action under former President Bill Clinton.

An F-35A Lightning II taxis during a combat exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, May 1, 2019. The active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th FW, along with F-16 Fighting Falcon units from Holloman AFB, N.M. and Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, conducted an integrated combat exercise where maintainers were tasked to continually provide ready aircraft and pilots to take off in waves to simulate a large force engagement with enemy aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by R. Nial Bradshaw)

Time to Put the Broken and Bloated F-35 Program to Rest?

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:May 21, 2020
Post category:Defense

Every day, the federal debt grows to new heights previously thought unimaginable. In 2008, fiscal hawks such as the late, great Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) were apoplectic that the national debt was at $10 trillion. Just 12 short years later, taxpayers are being asked to foot an astounding $25 trillion bill for federal debt. And the spending palooza shows no signs of letting up as lawmakers and the Pentagon continue to double down on the unnecessary and bank-breaking F-35 program. Taxpayers are having enough trouble coping with their own bills; the last thing households need right now is to continue funding another costly, ineffective federal project. It is time to end the F-35 program and free the Pentagon to spend defense dollars more prudently.

Coalition of 15 Organizations Supports “Getting Americans Back to Work Act”

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:May 19, 2020
Post category:Coalition Congress

A coalition of 15 free-market organizations urged Congress to support the “Getting Americans Back to Work Act.” This legislation, introduced by Rep. Ken Buck (R-Col.) and Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), is a commonsense proposal to protect taxpayers by limiting federal unemployment benefits to an applicant’s previous paycheck.

L-Band Wireless Spectrum Myths Vs. Facts

Post author:Ross Marchand
Post published:May 18, 2020
Post category:Telecommunications

Wireless spectrum is an important taxpayer asset and serves a pivotal role in closing the digital divide without spending taxpayer money. In particular, the L-Band spectrum will enable the deployment of a low-power terrestrial network for 5G and the Internet of Things. But over the past several weeks, there has been no shortage of debate over the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) recent unanimous (read: bipartisan) approval order for Ligado’s application to modify its spectrum license for 5G deployment. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has been following the case closely because of the potential to save taxpayer dollars and encourage private innovation and investment to bridge the digital divide.