Page 308 – Taxpayers Protection Alliance

TPA Joins Coalition Telling Congress to End Ex-Im

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:May 5, 2015
Post category:Congress Ex-Im Bank Taxpayers Protection Alliance

In a recent effort to preserve corporate welfare and cronyism, the Obama Administration pledged their “strong commitment” to renew the charter of the Export-Import Bank, which almost exclusively serves to line the pockets of major corporations and foreign nationals. The bank is a relic of the New Deal-era yet it is also directly responsible for lost American jobs as domestic companies are forced to cut back to compete with their foreign, Ex-Im-subsidized competitors. TPA has consistently said the best thing Congress can do for taxpayers and the economy when it comes to Ex-Im is what they do best: nothing. By allowing the bank’s charter to expire, an agency steeped in cronyism will cease to cause damage to jobs and companies in the United States. Just a few weeks ago, TPA joined with more than 50 other organizations led by Americans for Prosperity in telling Congress just that, let the bank expire and end Ex-Im. Click 'read more' below to see the full letter

When Corporate Welfare Trumps States' Rights

Post author:David Williams
Post published:May 4, 2015
Post category:Congress Internet Gambling Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article originally appeared in Inside Sources on April 28, 2015 U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is inexplicably on a mission to insert the federal government into state policies regarding gaming within state borders. Rep. Chaffetz’s stealthily titled bill, the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act,” would prohibit states from allowing online gaming. This is a move that could also negatively impact state lottery programs, reversing the decades-long trend of allowing states to self-determine gaming policies. Instead, it prioritizes another Congressional tradition: corporate welfare and crony capitalism. The movement behind the legislation is being funded by billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. In fact, there are some reports that Adelson is doing more than funding the effort – his lobbyist literally wrote the bill. If it sounds strange that a casino owner is pushing a bill to outlaw a form of gaming, it shouldn’t. In 2014, the brick-and-mortar business worked out well for him; he raked in $3.8 billion in profits. The problem with banning online gaming is that it already exists, but it is just relegated to the shadows. A quick Internet search reveals that anyone with a credit card can start betting on any number of shady operators overseas. In any potential legalized U.S. gaming system, there would be an eight-point verification process, including Social Security number verification. This would be more than enough to catch fraud and ensure consumer protections.

Coalition to United Nations: Honor World Press Freedom Day by Allowing Press Freedom

Post author:David Williams
Post published:April 30, 2015
Post category:Drew Johnson Taxes Taxpayers Protection Alliance

The United Nations Condemned by Groups from Across the Globe for Silencing the Media and Attacking Press Freedom Taxpayer groups, government watchdog organizations and think tanks from six continents demand transparency and accountability from the taxpayer-funded UN WASHINGTON, D.C. – Government watchdog groups, taxpayer organizations and think tanks from across the globe have united to condemn the taxpayer-funded United Nations (UN) for denying freedom of the press just hours before the launch of the UN’s annual “World Press Freedom Day.” More than 30 organizations representing 14 countries on six continents signed an open letter (click here) to the UN recounting examples of the organization’s unacceptable treatment of the media. The letter demands that the UN uphold the same standards of press freedom it expects from its member nations. World Press Freedom Day, which takes place on Sunday, May 3, is a celebration of the vital role the media plays in a free society and an attempt to promote a free, independent press in countries where that right is not yet appropriately valued. But the UN’s shameless assault on the same press freedoms the organization claims to defend has turned the event into a mockery and an embarrassment. Click "read more" below to see the full release and letter

Congress Nears Deal on Budget Resolution as Pentagon Slush Fund Lives On

Post author:David Williams
Post published:April 29, 2015
Post category:Budget Congress Defense House Michi Iljazi Obamacare Senate Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Budget Conferees are nearing a deal for a budget resolution that will be voted on by the full House and Senate. The House and Senate each passed versions of their budgets and over the last few weeks members of Congress have been working to meld the two together into one overall budget proposal. The good news is that (if passed) this would be the first time in six years that a budget resolution was approved by Congress. Unfortunately, it isn’t all good news as there are serious problems with the budget including the plan to increase Defense spending. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has been critical of House Armed Services Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) over past remarks intimating that spending caps need to be lifted due to national security concerns, And, both chambers still seem to be addicted to using the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account as a way of getting around spending levels set forth by law.

As NDAA Markups Begin, Problems Linger on Transparency and Spending Levels

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:April 28, 2015
Post category:Congress Defense Michi Iljazi National Defense Authorization Act Senate Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This week the U.S. House of Representatives will markup the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2016. While TPA has continued to praise the House of Representatives for their strides on transparency with an open process that allows for amendments and debate to be shown to the public, the Senate has yet to embrace the notion of that same open process. In the Senate, the biggest change may come with long-needed transparency that matches the House process by having an “Open-NDAA,” a process by which the public can see what actually happens. TPA has been a vocal voice advocating for an open-process for the NDAA in the Senate and once again TPA joined a transpartisan coalition letter (below) urging new Senate Armed Services Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to adopt an open and more transparent process for the Senate’s procedures on this year’s NDAA markup. Sen. McCain is a supporter of having an open-process for NDAA, but it remains to be seen if that position will win once the markup occurs in a few weeks. Click 'read more' below to see the full letter

A Win for Innovation and Intellectual Property

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:April 27, 2015
Post category:Congress Intellectual Property Michi Iljazi Patents

This article appeared in Real Clear Policy on April 24, 2015 As the world celebrates World IP Day on Sunday, intellectual property is becoming one of the most important issues facing Congress. Protecting IP is a core government function that can help grow the economy, which in turn helps taxpayers and consumers. The growing threat of “patent trolls” has become a major area of concern among those who want to ensure that patents are still a vibrant part of the creative process. Patent trolls in most cases do nothing to innovate; instead, they obtain patents for the purpose of filing lawsuits and clogging up the courts. For example, the company Lodsys exists solely to target small application developers. They do not make or sell anything; they just go after creators and claim patent infringement. In 2011, patent trolls cost the economy $80 billion and discouraged future innovation by raising creators' risk of frivolous lawsuits. A bipartisan House bill called the Innovation Act is designed to address this problem. Among other reforms, the legislation would require courts to decide on the validity of a patent on a faster timetable. This will make it harder for patent trolls to drag out a lawsuit in order force a settlement.

World IP Day 2015: Good and Bad News on Key Battles

Post author:David Williams
Post published:April 24, 2015
Post category:Congress Copyright Intellectual Property Michi Iljazi Plain Packaging Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This Sunday, April 26, is World Intellectual Property Day ( World IP Day) and the theme for this year’s observance is the protection of the intellectual property of music. World IP Day brings attention to the importance of intellectual property and why it is such a major part of the innovative foundations that have helped to generate a tremendous amount of economic impact not just in the United States but around the world. Even though this year’s focus is on music, there are many battles being fought around the world including countries forcing companies to give up their brands through plain packaging.

This Empire of the Sun Is Built on the Shifting Sands of Subsidies

Post author:David Williams
Post published:April 23, 2015
Post category:Energy Green Energy Solar Taxpayers Protection Alliance

This article originally appeared in Townhall.com on April 14, 2015 One can’t help but be impressed by the seemingly great strides solar energy has been making of late. Bullish reports abound of added capacity, aggressive expansion, technical advances and a solar jobs boom. Industry elites engage in bold financial maneuvers that would make Gordon Gekko proud. But don dark enough shades to see through the media-generated glare, and the picture looks less sunny -- and sometimes maybe a little shady. The boom -- some might even call it a “bubble” -- America’s solar energy industry is enjoying stems neither from overwhelming competitive-market success nor from long-promised technological breakthroughs that finally made solar a major player in the U.S. energy sector. On the contrary, Solar today remains a niche energy provider, generating just 0.6 percent of all U.S. electricity, despite nearly four decades of taxpayer generosity, government favoritism and pampered treatment. The sobering reality is that Big Solar’s day in the sun simply couldn’t be possible, and doesn’t appear economically sustainable, without continuous diversions of tax money, government assistance, energy portfolio carve-outs and utility cost-shifting schemes of various kinds. All are aimed at creating a “market” for solar that the industry apparently can’t establish on its own.

Coalition Urges Congress to Pass Trade Promotion Authority

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:April 21, 2015
Post category:Congress Michi Iljazi Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Trade is an extremely important issue right now as the U.S. economy continues to struggle as millions of Americans still find themselves jobless and our deficit and debt continue to grow. This is one area where the White House and President Obama have a unique opportunity to come together to approve and ratify trade agreements that benefit working Americans and taxpayers, while at the same time preserving the interest of the country both here and abroad. Last week, bipartisan and bicameral deal was reached on legislation known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). The bill was hammered out by Senators Orin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.). TPA would ensure that the executive could finalize negotiations on trade agreements, while making sure Congress retained control including oversight on any deal reached. Today, more than twenty organizations joined in a coalition effort supporting the legislation and sent a letter to Congress urging approval of TPA. To see the full letter, click 'read more' below

Net Neutrality Regulations Spur Lawsuits and a Fear of a Tax Increase

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:April 20, 2015
Post category:Internet Michi Iljazi Net Neutrality Regulation Taxpayers Protection Alliance Telecommunications

Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted along party lines to approve a net neutrality plan proposed by Chairman Tom Wheeler that was more than 300 pages long. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) was quick to criticize the proposal as completely antithetical to the innovative nature that has been a hallmark of the Internet for nearly two decades. Even though the rules have been published in the Federal Register and are set to take effect on June 12, 2015, there is a long road ahead and the battle over the future of the regulation is still far from being resolved. As expected, the FCC decision sparked a number of lawsuits questioning the FCC’s authority to regulate the Internet under Title II (click here to read a previous blog posting on Title II). Currently, a total of seven legal actions have been taken against the FCC and their plans for net neutrality. This is not the first time the FCC has been challenged on net neutrality rules in the courts. Last year the FCC lost in Federal Appeals Court against Verizon in which the court held the FCC exceeded their authority with new rules on internet providers.