Page 296 – Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Rand Paul is Right: Unlimited Military Spending isn't Conservative

Post author:David Williams
Post published:November 23, 2015
Post category:Defense Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article appeared in Rare on November 16, 2015 After the previous three Republican presidential debates devolved into a series of spectacles marked by petty infighting and general disorder, the most recent one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was marketed as the first real opportunity for substantive discussion. One exchange, in particular, did highlight an incredibly important topic for conservatives: Congress’ addiction to blindly giving the Pentagon as much money as it wants. In an exchange with Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Rand Paul asked whether Rubio, and by extension other Republicans, could be true conservatives promising “to make the country safe” while supporting unlimited military spending that contributes to the national debt. The short answer is no, they can’t.

With Ex-Im Reauthorization Passage in House, Just Follow the Money

Post author:David Williams
Post published:November 20, 2015
Post category:Congress Ex-Im Bank Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article appeared on Townhall.com on November 2, 2015 The millions of dollars of corporate lobbying for reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank seems to have finally paid off. Despite the fact that taxpayers won a victory when Congress allowed the beleaguered, corruption-laden bank to expire on June 30, a group of weak-willed Republicans, led by Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), joined with Democrats and used a little known and rarely used tool called a “discharge petition” to resurrect the Bank from the dead. The House of Representatives has abandoned common sense as Boeing’s Bank may be coming back. The discharge petition circumvented the authority of the House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), whose committee had jurisdiction over the bill and rightfully decided earlier this summer to let the Bank expire. The discharge petition allowed the bill to come directly to the House floor for a vote.

Missed opportunities on DOD Reform

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:November 18, 2015
Post category:Appropriations Budget Congress Defense Michi Iljazi National Defense Authorization Act Taxpayers Protection Alliance

The last few weeks in Washington have been centered on a flurry of major news stories and events. The election of new House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), the continuing Presidential debates for the 2016 nomination, a major budget deal, and now the Paris attack that killed more than 100 people last Friday night. Lost in the constant cycle of continuing coverage of these other things is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was passed (again) by both the House and Senate that is now awaiting President Obama’s signature before becoming law. The very little attention that was paid to the NDAA’s journey through Congress was mainly focused on the first time it passed when President Obama promptly vetoed it. Year after year President Obama has made veto threats but this was the first time that he actually made good on the threat. The reasoning behind the rare White House veto was detailed through a statement from the administration at the time of the signing on October 22.

TPA Urges House Members to Press FCC Members on Municipal Broadband

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:November 17, 2015
Post category:Broadband Congress House Michi Iljazi Taxpayers Protection Alliance Telecommunications

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance sent a letter yesterday urging House members to use today's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversight hearing in the Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee as an opportunity to raise important questions regarding the agency's actions on preempting state laws around the country as it relates to municipal broadband. The FCC must answer for their role in overreaching into the states, without proper authority, on broadband expansion. Click 'read more' below to see the full letter

Democrats' Energy 'Innovation' Plan A Throwback to Discredited Policies

Post author:David Williams
Post published:November 16, 2015
Post category:Congress Energy Green Energy Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article orginally appeared in The Washington Examiner on November 5, 2015 Late last month, a group of leading Senate Democrats launched a new initiative that would overhaul the nation's energy policies through a package of tax measures and, of course, a vast new program of government subsidies for pet clean energy technologies. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., described this legislative push as a "a technology-driven pathway to a clean energy future." This so-called pathway is, not by accident, aimed at derailing efforts from Republicans and oil patch Democrats who have sensibly pushed for policies that would increase the availability and affordability of the energy the economy actually needs. This plan is not tax reform and will not help the country be more competitive. A key element of the Democrats' plan is to use the tax code to further disadvantage domestic energy producers and funnel taxpayer funding to pet green energy companies. But to make these crony capitalist schemes more palatable to the public, they trot out the canard about oil and gas firms receiving subsidies and corporate welfare.

Deadly Doses: Recreational Drug Experiments on Animals and How It Wastes Millions of Tax Dollars, November 2015

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:November 15, 2015
Post category:Uncategorized

Animal Justice Project USA and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance have united to uncover an epidemic of deplorable government spending on recreational drug experiments on animals as part of the Animal Justice Project USA's 'Deadly Doses: A Legal Low' campaign. The experiments not only appear to be of no value to human health but also lead to the needless suffering and death of countless animals.

Just in Time for the Holidays, More Financial Losses Reported from the U.S. Postal Service

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:November 13, 2015
Post category:Congress Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Today, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released its financial results detailing a loss of $5.1 billion for the 2015 fiscal year. As a continuation of the Postal Service’s financial meltdown, this year marks its ninth consecutive year-end loss of more than a billion dollars. In response to the figures released by the USPS and the subsequent analysis from their leadership, Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) President, David Williams, made it clear that more transparent management and accounting is needed to repair the agency. Click 'read more' below to see the full press release

Stuck in the Regulatory Stone Age, FCC Trying to Hold Back Lyft

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:November 11, 2015
Post category:Internet Michi Iljazi Net Neutrality Regulation Taxpayers Protection Alliance Telecommunications

The growth of government comes in some of the most obvious and costly measures for the economy by way of wasteful spending and higher taxes. But, another way that big government wreaks havoc on the private sector is through regulations. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has been a repeat offender when it comes to using regulatory power to stifle growth and investment in certain parts of the telecommunications sector. Now, their reach is broadening beyond telecom and hitting in parts of the private sector that could have harmful consequences going forward for a variety of industries. In September, the FCC cited Lyft for what they deemed violations of consumer protections relating to automated messaging for mobile users.

TPA Submits Testimony to Massachusetts Legislators Opposing Municipal Broadband Bill

Post author:David Williams
Post published:November 10, 2015
Post category:Broadband Comments and Testimony Taxpayers Protection Alliance Telecommunications

Massachusetts State House (Boston, MA) Municipal broadband, or government broadband, has been an increasing problem for taxpayers. Local lawmakers use it as a “shiny object” sold as a new, better, and more affordable alternative to private sector broadband options. Unfortunately these networks are expensive and unnecessary, usually costing taxpayers more while failing to deliver the quality of service that’s promised. TPA has been working to fight and expose government owned networks (GONs) all around the country and the latest example comes from Massachusetts. Today, lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy will consider testimony on a bill that would move the state closer to their own government broadband service. Yesterday, TPA submitted a letter as testimony, urging the committee members to oppose the bill. Click "read more" below to see the full letter:

President Obama Chooses Politics Over Prosperity in Keystone Rejection

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:November 9, 2015
Post category:Energy Michi Iljazi Oil Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Last week’s announcement by President Obama that he would reject the Keystone XL Pipeline was not surprising, but nonetheless, it was a disappointing decision because of the economic and energy security benefits that will be lost. The most troubling aspect of the decision is the reasoning behind the rejection. At a press conference, President Obama cited environmental concerns and an upcoming climate conference in Paris as major factors in his reasoning, despite findings that the pipeline would not significantly harm the environment. Lost jobs and the economic growth that Keystone could have brought to the U.S. will be the most significant repercussions of the decision. It’s estimated that more than 42,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs would have been created through Keystone. With an economy still reeling from the recession, those jobs are much needed by Americans who continue to struggle to find work. It is also worth noting that $2.2 billion that would have been put into the pockets of those workers will be lost. In addition to bringing jobs and wages, the project would have also contributed $3.4 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).