Read more about the article TPA to FCC: Oppose Efforts in Chattanooga to Increase Government Broadband Beyond Chattanooga

TPA to FCC: Oppose Efforts in Chattanooga to Increase Government Broadband Beyond Chattanooga

Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) submitted a public comment (view here) to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding an outrageous proposal to ignore state laws and allow the expansion of a widely criticized taxpayer-funded government broadband in Tennessee. The comment was submitted in the matter of FCC Docket Number 14-116, Electronic Power Board of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The question before the FCC about whether to allow EPB, Chattanooga’s public electric utility, to expand its Internet and cable service area comes at a time when many states are involved in their own disputes about expanding government broadband. While many state legislatures seek to stop expansion, the FCC and federal government look to override state laws and force expansion. TPA has called for the federal government to respect the decision of taxpayers and state officials in Utah and elsewhere to halt expansion of ineffective government broadband that burdens taxpayers who foot the bill for unnecessary, uncompetitive and socialist-style government projects. David Williams, President the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said the organization submitted its FCC comment because, “expanding a publicly-funded product that underperforms in the market, both at a substance level and cost level, would be a mistake and a threat to taxpayers." To read TPA's full release and comment to the FCC on Chattanooga EPB, click 'read more' below

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Read more about the article Solar Power Burns More Than The Birds

Solar Power Burns More Than The Birds

This article originally appeared in The Daily Press on September 19, 2014 Many California taxpayers probably don’t realize that they are paying for the subsidization of solar energy, whether or not they even use solar power. This is happening because of government incentives that were created through a tax credit for the owners of solar panels. The biggest concern with the program is that rooftop solar companies have found a way to claim the tax credit for themselves. These companies discovered that if they lease the rooftop solar systems to homeowners, the companies retain ownership of the solar panels, thereby claiming the federal tax credit as well as all state and local incentives. Homeowners share responsibility because they need to be aware that any contracts they sign affect their homes, but solar panel companies count on consumer laziness to grow their business.

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Read more about the article Reform the Tax Code to Spur New Energy Industry Expansion

Reform the Tax Code to Spur New Energy Industry Expansion

This article orginally appeared on Pennlive.com on September 18, 2014 The U.S. economy has gained real steam in recent months. Last quarter, the groos domestic product grew at a very solid 4 percent. And, the most recent jobs report shows that the job market added nearly 210,000 positions in July. The energy industry is a major contributor to this revival. American oil and natural gas businesses are in the midst of an unprecedented blossoming. In fact, the United States recently surpassed Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the number one energy producer in the world. Federal lawmakers need to be wary of undermining this success. Destructive policies can stifle energy industry expansion and choke off the creation of new employment opportunities and general economic growth.

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Read more about the article TPA Reacts to New Rules from U.S. Treasury on Tax Inversions

TPA Reacts to New Rules from U.S. Treasury on Tax Inversions

On Monday, the Obama Administration and the United States Treasury Department took executive action towards the practice of tax inversions. Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) President David Williams released the following statement today in reaction to the move by Treasury Secretary Jack Lew: “The Obama Administration has once again shown that they don’t understand the real problems of tax policy in the United States, and more specifically the corporate tax. The executive action announced by Secretary Lew on Monday aimed at punishing companies who engage in tax inversions is not only the wrong move for the private sector, but it continues the willful ignorance of the federal government to fix our corporate tax structure. It’s been more than two years since the United States surpassed Japan in reaching the highest effective corporate tax rate in the world, and in those two years we’ve seen nothing but demonizing of the private sector from the Obama Administration and their allies in Congress. There should not be new rules and regulations that will make it more difficult for companies to compete in the global economy. There should be drastic reform of the corporate tax rate to reduce the cost of doing business in America so that jobs can be created and companies can be rewarded for their innovation. If President Obama is serious about keeping U.S. businesses in the U.S., he should support comprehensive tax reform, and specifically call for an immediate reduction in the corporate tax rate. TPA will continue to press for bipartisan, bicameral action from Congress on reducing the corporate tax, and in turn fixing the real problem that is plaguing business.”

Continue ReadingTPA Reacts to New Rules from U.S. Treasury on Tax Inversions
Read more about the article New Report Highlights Danger Cyberlockers Present to Intellectual Property

New Report Highlights Danger Cyberlockers Present to Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property (IP) is an important debate in today’s global economy, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) continues highlight the value of IP in an evolving economic landscape. There are new pieces of data and information that can be obtained on a regular basis in terms of the kind of value IP has to economic growth and expanding innovation, and a new report released last week shows yet again just how the abuse of IP is still rampant and profitable, and in dire need of improvement. A report from the Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA) entitled “Behind the Cyberlocker Door: A Report on How Shadowy Cyberlocker Businesses Use Credit Card Companies to Make Millions” showcases the seedy nature of some businesses that are blatantly ignoring IP, and making a great deal of money through content that they neither created or have a right to profit off of.

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Read more about the article A Reality Check On Inversions

A Reality Check On Inversions

(Stephen Adkins is a research fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.) In July President Obama noted that, “I don’t care if it’s legal, it’s wrong. It sticks you for the tab to make up for what they’re stashing offshore.” This was said to a crowd of supporters at a Los Angeles area technical college. After defending the record of his administration, emphasizing the challenges posed by the financial crisis and subsequent Great Recession, Obama then turned his attention to the growing phenomenon of tax inversion (American businesses engaging in cross-border mergers in order to escape heavy corporate tax rates here at home). In a July 24th speech Obama declared that, “stopping companies from renouncing their citizenship just to get out of paying their fair share of taxes is something that cannot wait.” While being careful to refer to this practice as “tax avoidance” (not to be confused with its illegal cousin “tax evasion”), Obama railed against so-called “corporate deserters,” whining that American businesses require a renewed “economic patriotism.” In other words, American businesses’ primary responsibility is not, as one might think, to maximize shareholder value, but instead to stay put and let the Internal Revenue Service bleed them dry. And that, is somehow patriotic.

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Read more about the article TPA Submits Comment to House Energy and Commerce Committee on the Universal Service Fund

TPA Submits Comment to House Energy and Commerce Committee on the Universal Service Fund

House Energy and Commerce Committee The House Energy and Commerce Committee has been working on trying to update the Communications Act and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) has been very vocal on recommendations for how best to proceed. Last month the committee released a white paper on the Universal Service Fund (USF), soliciting more input from the public. USF is a tool used to help pay for certain programs implemented under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); which are the Connect America Fund, Lifeline (for low-income consumers), Schools and Libraries, and Rural Health Care. TPA submitted a comment this morning to the committee summarizing the view that it is time to fully re-evaluate the USF as a necessary tool of the Telecommunications Act. Click 'read more' below to see the full comment

Continue ReadingTPA Submits Comment to House Energy and Commerce Committee on the Universal Service Fund
Read more about the article TPA Releases Statement on House Passage of Continuing Resolution

TPA Releases Statement on House Passage of Continuing Resolution

Tonight, the House of Representatives passed yet another short-term spending bill to keep the government open, by a vote of 319 to 108. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) released a statement saying, in part: Tonight, the United States House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11, 2014 and the legislation is on its way to the Senate for likely passage and then to the President for his signature. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is extremely disappointed in this latest half-measure to fund the government that not only ensures continued protection for the crony Export-Import Bank, but also leaves in doubt whether or not taxpayers will be able to be protected from Internet Access taxes in the long-term. TPA has several issues with this continuing resolution but there are a few that stand out. First, the extension of the Export-Import Bank that is included in the CR is a troubling development on a fight that has been taking up a great deal of debate on Capitol Hill over recent months. The extension goes well into 2015, leaving the possibility that a long-term extension for Ex-Im may be in the works. TPA opposes extension of the bank because it is a major enabler of the worst kind of corporate welfare that leaves taxpayers at risk, costs American jobs, and undercuts the very idea of free-market principles in a global economy. Second, the bill includes only a mere five-week extension to the moratorium on Internet Access taxes. The moratorium was originally set to expire on November 1, 2014; now it is slated to expire in early December. This sets up yet another debate on the issue and TPA is very concerned there will be an attempt to couple a permanent extension with passage of an Internet Sales tax. The two issues are separate and should not be handled in a lame duck session of Congress, when politicians are unlikely to be held accountable. To read the full statement, click 'read more' below

Continue ReadingTPA Releases Statement on House Passage of Continuing Resolution
Read more about the article TPA Joins Coalition Urging Opposition to Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act

TPA Joins Coalition Urging Opposition to Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act

Congress is set for a final week of business and unfortunately we still have yet to see an extension of the Internet Access tax moratorium. What is worse is that a short-term extension into December is in the works, but there are legitimate fears that this minor extension is a precursor to a renewed push to merge a long-term extension of the Internet Access tax moratorium with the harmful Internet Sales Tax, otherwise known as the Marketplace Fairness Act. TPA has continued to voice our opposition for any legislation that puts these together. With that in mind, TPA signed a letter sent by the R Street Institute and cosigned American Commitment, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Campaign for Liberty, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Center for Individual Freedom, Citizens Against Government Waste, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Digital Liberty, FreedomWorks, The Heartland Institute, Heritage Action for America, Institute for Policy Innovation, Less Government, and National Taxpayers Union urging Congress to oppose S. 2609, the Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act. The legislation merges both the issues of Internet Access taxes and Internet Sales tax in an attempt to confuse and disguise bad policy by acting as though both should be resolved at the same time in the same bill. Click 'read more' below to see the full letter

Continue ReadingTPA Joins Coalition Urging Opposition to Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act
Read more about the article TPA Continues to Urge FCC Against Net Neutrality Push

TPA Continues to Urge FCC Against Net Neutrality Push

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler with President Obama (courtesy WhiteHouse.gov) The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) continues to warn against ‘net neutrality’ and increased regulatory initiatives on the Internet stressing the belief that a light regulatory footprint by the government is what has allowed for such innovation and expansive commerce and economic output by way of the Internet. Today, TPA President David Williams submitted another public comment (view here) regarding a draft proposal for new rules on open Internet policy from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) including the possibility of a reclassification of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) under Title II, which would most certainly result in more regulation and more government control over the Internet. Click 'read more' below to view the full comment

Continue ReadingTPA Continues to Urge FCC Against Net Neutrality Push