Page 380 – Taxpayers Protection Alliance

TPA Uncovers More Earmarks – This Time in the Interior Bill

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 25, 2011
Post category:David Williams Earmarks Taxpayers Protection Alliance

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is always looking through spending bills for earmarks. In fact, TPA was the first to uncover billions of dollars in earmarks for NASA and the Department of Defense. Now, while Congerss thinks that taxpayers, and watchdogs, are distracted with debt ceiling discussions, they sneak in $498 million worth of earmarks in the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agenices Bill for 2012. And, let's not forget, there is a self-imposed earmark ban.

Senate Kills Cut, Cap, and Balance – Gang of Six is Still NOT the Answer

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 22, 2011
Post category:Congress David Williams Debt Debt Ceiling Spending Taxes Taxpayers Protection Alliance

On Tuesday July 19, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, & Balance Act of 2011 (click here, here, and here to read previous posts on CCB). On Friday, the Senate cut off debate on its version of cut, cap and balance, effectively killing the legislation. If it had been passed by the Senate and signed by the President, the legislation would have forced Congress and the President to cut spending, cap spending and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. On the same day that the vote on H.R. 2560 took place, the Senate’s Gang of Six proposal was released. Named after the three Republican senators; Tom Coburn (Okla.), Saxby Chambliss (Georgia), and Michael Crapo (Idaho) and three Democratic senators; Kent Conrad (N.D.); Dick Durbin (Illinois) and Mark Warner (Virginia), the Gang of 6 plan is supposed to be THE bi-partisan answer to raising the debt ceiling and addressing future deficits and debt. In reality, the plan contains massive tax increases.

Game Day – Senate Set to Vote on Cut, Cap, and Balance

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 22, 2011
Post category:Congress David Williams Debt Debt Ceiling Deficit Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

On Tuesday the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, the only plan that finally forces the federal government to live within its means. Today (Friday July 22) the bill will be voted on in the Senate, and we need your help to pressure vulnerable Democratic Senators to support it! (click here, here, and here to read previous posts on CCB). There are eight Democratic Senators that may hold America’s future in their hands. If they allow the Senate to thoroughly debate and discuss the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act– and the American people to fully engage themselves as they watch – the bill will have a fair chance to pass the Senate. Call them all RIGHT NOW and ask them to support the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act! Senator Jon Tester- 202-224-2644; Senator Ben Nelson- 202-224-6551;Senator Joe Manchin- 202-224-3954; Senator Mark Pryor- 202-224-2353; Senator Bob Casey- 202-224-6324; Senator Debbie Stabenow- 202-224-4822; Senator Claire McCaskill- 202-224-6154; and Senator Bill Nelson- 202-224-5274.

Gang of Six Should be Nixed

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 21, 2011
Post category:David Williams Debt Debt Ceiling Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

On Tuesday July 19, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, & Balance Act of 2011. On Friday, the Senate cut off debate on its version of cut, cap and balance, effectively killing the legislation (click here, here, and here to read previous posts on CCB). If it had been passed by the Senate and signed by the President, the legislation would have forced Congress and the President to cut spending, cap spending and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. On the same day that the vote on H.R. 2560 took place, the Senate’s Gang of Six proposal was released. Named after the three Republican senators; Tom Coburn (Okla.), Saxby Chambliss (Georgia), and Michael Crapo (Idaho) and three Democratic senators; Kent Conrad (N.D.); Dick Durbin (Illinois) and Mark Warner (Virginia), the Gang of 6 plan is supposed to be THE bi-partisan answer to raising the debt ceiling and addressing future deficits and debt. In reality, the plan contains massive tax increases.

Cut, Cap and Balance – House Set to Vote on Landmark Legislation

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 19, 2011
Post category:Congress David Williams Debt Debt Ceiling Deficit Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Today is the day: the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, & Balance Act of 2011. This legislation will force Congress and the President to cut spending, cap spending and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. Even though Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) supports cut, cap, and balanced budget, he has his own plan that he wants passed. Sen. McConnell’s plan (dubbed Plan B) would give the President the power to raise the debt ceiling three times to the tune of $2.5 trillion which would be enough to get them past the 2012. McConnell’s plan does not require spending cuts, that is why it is imperative to tell your member of Congress to stop the over spending and sign the cut, cap, and balance pledge. Go to www.house.gov or call the main switchboard of the Capitol at 202-224-3121 and urge your member of Congress to vote for H.R. 2560.

Debt Ceiling Negotiations – Sen. McConnell Blinks

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 15, 2011
Post category:Congress David Williams Debt Debt Ceiling Spending Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Debt ceiling negotiations are at a critical point. The deadline for default is quickly approaching (even though some say it is a fake deadline, including the Taxpayers Protection Alliance) and the House republican leadership has stood its ground by insisting that tax increases should not be a part of any deal. A coalition of more than 200 groups from across the country (including the Taxpayers Protection Alliance) has been promoting an idea called Cut, Cap, and Balance (click here for previous blog posting) as a way to get the nation’s fiscal house in order. It is simple: cut spending; cap spending, and pass a balanced budget amendment. A bill proposed by Sens. Rand Paul, (R-Ky.), Pat Toomey, (R-Penn.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) mirrors the principles of cut, cap, and balance by allowing a debt ceiling increase as long as if there were spending cuts, enforceable spending caps and a balanced budget amendment. The House of Representatives also plans a vote on cut, cap, and balance. Great news for the taxpayers, but then comes along Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to throw cold water on all the progress that had been made during the debt negotiations. Sen. McConnell’s plan (dubbed Plan B) would give the President the power to raise the debt ceiling three times to the tune of $2.5 trillion which would be enough to get them past the 2012 elections.

Senate Democrats Miss the Point

Post author:Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Post published:July 13, 2011
Post category:Debt Deficit Taxes Taxpayers Protection Alliance

(Michael Shue is a guest commentator and taxpayer from Virginia. Michael can be reached at michaelshue@gmail.com) On Monday July 11, Senate Democrats released their budget framework detailing their vision on tackling the looming debt crisis. The framework begins with dire warnings of what will happen if we do not get our fiscal house in order: unsustainable debt levels, trillions in deficits and interest payments; all economic poison for years to come. They even go so far to quote Admiral Mike Mullen saying that our national debt isn’t just an economic problem, but a dire national security issue. But their solution is the biggest mistake that could be made: tax increases.

Net Neutrality – No Need for Internet Regulation

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 12, 2011
Post category:David Williams Net Neutrality Taxpayers Protection Alliance Telecommunications

On June 3, 2011 the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) wrote about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) coordinating with supporters of net neutrality to advance the new regulation. On Friday July 8, 2011 the FCC sent the proposed regulations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) which begins a 30 day comment period for the new regulations. After that 30 day time period, the new regulation will go into effect 60 days later. Any regulation of the Internet is unnecessary and potentially expensive for taxpayers. There are also some who believe that the FCC does not even have jurisdiction to regulate the Internet. TPA urges all citizens to contact the Office of Management and Budget (click here) and tell them that net neutrality regulations will be harmful to consumers and taxpayers.

Debt Ceiling Negotiations Illustrate the Need for Cut, Cap, and Balance

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 11, 2011
Post category:Congress David Williams Debt Debt Ceiling Deficit Spending Taxes Taxpayers Protection Alliance

After a 75 minute meeting on Sunday July 10, Republican leaders and President Obama have yet to come up with a plan to raise the debt ceiling, or more importantly, cut spending. The meeting comes just 48 hours after new unemployment numbers were released that showed an increase in unemployment from May to June. President Obama insists that tax increases must be in the table while fiscal conservatives are staking their ground by insisting on spending cuts without tax increases. Now is not the time to burden the taxpayers with more taxes. That is why it is imperative to tell your member of Congress to stop the over spending and sign the cut, cap, and balance pledge. Call the main switchboard of the Capitol at 202-224-3121.

Debt Ceiling Negotiations: Time for Real Spending Cuts and Not Tax Increases

Post author:David Williams
Post published:July 8, 2011
Post category:Congress David Williams Healthcare Spending Taxes Taxpayers Protection Alliance

New unemployment numbers were released today (July 8) and the bad news is that the unemployment rate jumped to 9.2 percent. This number was released smack dab in the middle of the negotiations on raising the debt ceiling and just 48 hours before a rare Sunday meeting between members of Congress and the President as they try to hammer out a deal on raising the debt ceiling. Fiscal conservatives are staking their ground by insisting on spending cuts without tax increases while others keep the door open to tax increases. Rumors have been leaked about Republicans accepting a deal that would include an increase in revenues. Now is not the time to burden the taxpayers with more taxes. That is why it is imperative to tell your member of Congress to stop the over spending and demand real spending cuts and no tax increases. Call the main switchboard of the Capitol at 202-224-3121.