Page 294 – Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Republican Attorneys General Need to Defend States' Right on Gaming

Post author:David Williams
Post published:December 30, 2015
Post category:Congress Internet Gambling Regulation Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article appeared in Townhall.com on December 9, 2015 In a 2014 video by the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson argued that, “The founders created a magnificent document, our Constitution, that never intended” for the federal government to encroach on states’ rights. It’s a good message from a usually reliable conservative. Unfortunately, it’s also difficult to square with Wilson’s October letter to colleagues asking his fellow attorneys general to support federal legislation mandating how states regulate gaming within their borders; a message that is irreconcilable with his insistence that Washington respect states’ rights. The measure in question is the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act” (RAWA), which would allow politicians in Washington, DC to decide state gaming policy.

TPA Joins Coalition Urging Reform on U.S. Sugar Policy

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:December 29, 2015
Post category:Congress Michi Iljazi Taxpayers Protection Alliance

As Washington prepares for the New Year, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is hard at work preparing to continue the fight against wasteful spending on policies and programs that have amounted to nothing more than cronyism and corporate welfare. One area that Congress could look at in 2016 is the U.S. sugar program, which TPA has been fighting to change for years. From import quotas to purchasing excess sugar to keep prices artificially high, the sugar program is filled with subsidies and in need of reform. In an effort led by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), TPA signed onto a letter with other taxpayer and free market organizations urging new House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) to reform federal policy on sugar in the coming year.

U.S. Postal Service Needs Principled Leadership and Accountable Oversight

Post author:David Williams
Post published:December 28, 2015
Post category:Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article appeared in Morning Consult on December 17, 2015 With more than $52 billion in mounting financial debt since 2007, a number of services that fail to cover product costs and service standards in rapid decline, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is in trouble and the future of dependable mail delivery is in jeopardy. What is needed most from USPS is better financial management of overall postal operations and management accountability for the declining service of their core mission of letter mail delivery, a clear misguided business plan and financial mismanagement leading to their mounting debt. Outside of government, a Board of Directors would be held accountable if they were delivering zero value to shareholders and running mounting deficits year after year. The body that plays this role for USPS is the Board of Governors.

TPA's Christmas Wish to the Postal Service: Get Back to Original Mission of Delivering Mail

Post author:David Williams
Post published:December 25, 2015
Post category:Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This Christmas, as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) processes how it will handle the business of next year after releasing financial results showing a loss of $5.1 billion for the 2015 fiscal year, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance has a simple message for the agency: end the experimentation into new services and focus on delivering the mail. After a ninth consecutive year-end loss of more than a billion dollars, the beleaguered agency must find a way to get back on track. Part of the problem is the repeated attepmts by the agency to delve into new services like grocery delivery. It is also important to note that leadership at the USPS has been an issue too, which is why TPA is looking to their Board of Governors and the multiple openings on the board as a way to repair the agency. After another financial loss, compounded by a year in which multiple schemes in new services did not deliver the return needed to get the agency out of the red, it’s time the USPS remember the message of many who have been calling for reforms: stick to the core mission of delivering the mail. While families gather together to celebrate Christmas, here's TPA's animated holiday-themed video calling on the government-granted monopoly to stop with abusive expansion into private markets and return to the core mission of delivering the mail. Merry Christmas! The video can be seen below and on TPA’s YouTube page (click here).

A 2015 Festivus for Taxpayers!

Post author:David Williams
Post published:December 23, 2015
Post category:Defense Ex-Im Bank Michi Iljazi Solar Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Folks around the country are spending time with their loved ones getting ready to celebrate the holidays with a variety of traditions that bring families together each year. There is one holiday tradition that the Taxpayers Protection Alliance enjoys, and that’s celebrating FESTIVUS! Yes, the Seinfeld-inspired holiday that people know and love is how TPA celebrates the season! Once again, we’ve put together a great list that’s perfectly themed for Kramer’s favorite holiday! Our Festivus message is always one that the President and Congress should be paying careful attention to as they prepare for the New Year, enjoy!

Congress' Omnibus Bill; Minus Few Lumps of Coal, Historic Win for U.S. Energy

Post author:David Williams
Post published:December 22, 2015
Post category:Congress Energy Oil Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Last week, the 114th Congress approved a $1.1 trillion spending bill that has now been signed into law by President Obama. As is the case with any government package this size, Congress’ omnibus bill contains its fair share of lumps of coal for taxpayers including 365 Defense earmarks worth $14.8 billion, solar and wind subsidies, and a wasted $175 million in taxpayer dollars for the Essential Air Services program. However, with that being said, the package also includes language lifting the decades-old ban on U.S. crude oil exports. Put simply, this provision—strongly supported by Democrats and Republicans—is being chalked up as a major win for America consumers. And for good reason. Maintaining the nearly 40-year-old ban on domestic crude oil exports no longer makes sense. The U.S. is the leading producer of oil and natural gas globally, and has within reach the opportunity to become the world’s leader in energy resources. The benefits of allowing U.S. crude oil exports covers everything from increased economic benefits here at home, to downward pressure on gasoline prices,, to significantly increased diplomatic and security relations with our nation’s key allies.

The GOP Presidential Field Abandons Fiscal Restraint At The Pentagon

Post author:David Williams
Post published:December 21, 2015
Post category:Budget Defense Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article appeared in The Daily Caller on December 18, 2015 Tuesday’s Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas was a disappointment for fiscal conservatives who care about reckless federal spending, particularly at the Pentagon. If the previous debate was any indication, the prospect for a constructive conversation about the future of military spending showed real promise. During the previous debate on November 10th, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called out the GOP field because most of the candidates have spent the better part of this campaign season pledging to ramp up an already bloated Pentagon budget. “How is it conservative to add a trillion dollars in military expenditures?” Sen. Paul asked. “You can not be a conservative if you’re going to keep promoting new programs that you’re not going to pay for.” Paul’s comments turned out to be one of the highlights of that night back in November, and it seemed like a real opportunity to create momentum for a shift within the Republican party about the direction of Pentagon budget policy. But unfortunately, the Republican candidates slipped loudly back to their comfort zone during this week’s debate. Even Sen. Paul himself was silent on the issue, except for one coded line about being “willing to hold the line on all spending.” As for the rest of the candidates, it was an all-out field day of pledges to throw more money at the Pentagon without any talk of reform.

BREAKING: TPA Releases List of 365 Earmarks Worth $14.8 billion in Defense Appropriations in FY 2016 Omnibus

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:December 18, 2015
Post category:Appropriations Congress Defense Earmarks Michi Iljazi Press Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Earlier this week, Congress released an Omnibus-spending bill (click here for the full bill) for the next fiscal year that will cost approximately $1.1 trillion and will likely be passed by Congress before the weekend is over. Despite a change in leadership in the House of Representatives, the FY 2016 Omnibus continues the same trend of massive spending bills being passed just as deadlines approach. Though there were some important provisions included in the Omnibus, including an extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act and a lifting of the ban on crude oil exports, there were also some troubling provisions like more subsidies for solar and wind. This morning, TPA released a list of earmarks found in the Defense appropriations section of the more than 2,000-page bill (click here for the full list). There were 365 Defense earmarks totaling $14,833,435,000. This is a 25 percent increase in projects from last year’s CROmnibus, which contained 293 projects. It was also a 14 percent increase in cost over last year’s $13,063,116,000. There were more than a few familiar programs that were on the list, including three additional F-35 aircrafts, money for the still unwanted Abrams Tank, and the problem-plagued Littoral Combat Ship.

TPA Releases Statement on 2016 Omnibus Spending Bill

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:December 16, 2015
Post category:Affordable Care Act Appropriations Congress Energy House Michi Iljazi Oil Senate Solar Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Taxpayers Protection Alliance Notes Good, Bad, and Ugly on Omnibus Watchdog Group slams process while noting wins and losses for taxpayers (Washington) – The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), representing millions of taxpayers across the country, reacted to the agreement reached by lawmakers to fund the government over the next fiscal year with the release of an Omnibus spending package worth more than $1 trillion. TPA President David Williams made the following comment after the 2,000-page bill was released to the public: “The good, the bad, and the ugly is the best way to classify this bill. Despite recent changes in House leadership, there’s been no change to a process that has continued to let down taxpayers. A massive spending bill filed as deadlines to fund the government are running out has become an all too familiar way to pass major legislation. Congress is throwing a bunch of presents under the tree for taxpayers the night before Christmas and there’s more than a few lumps of coal in taxpayers’ stockings.” The 2,009-page Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (full text here) was a mix of both good and bad news for Americans. click 'read more' below to read the full statement

Paris Pledge: Obama Bypasses Congress, Opting for More Regulations

Post author:David Williams
Post published:December 15, 2015
Post category:Conference of the Parties Congress Energy Green Energy Solar Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Late last week, leaders from around the world concluded a major gathering in Paris where they discussed, negotiated, and ultimately reached a global agreement on how to deal with climate change. The meeting, the Conference of Parties (COP) 21, was organized by the taxpayer-funded United Nations (UN). With the UN as the center of the meeting, there was even more skepticism about any good outcomes. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has been highly critical of the UN with its lack of transparency and previous attempts to impose international taxes (click here for TPA’s previous work on the United Nations). After all the hoopla was done, this was yet another conference with the usual solution, more government intervention. This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen increased bureaucracy as the “silver bullet” to stop something terrible. Specifically focusing on the environment, the Paris agreement just turned out to be another round of proposals calling for new regulations on countries and businesses that will likely do little to improve the environment and do a great deal to damage the economic output of partner nations, including the United States. And, with more than 50,000 attendees, the irony of the carbon footprint made by those traveling to Paris should not be lost.