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GovernmentBytes
The Late Edition: May 13, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! Is there fire under the cloud of smoke surrounding US AID’s contributions to Former British PM Tony Blair’s charities? Remember back in late-December when Washington was fretting about the Sequester cuts and their impact on the economy? According to Forbes, so far the effect of the cuts has been almost negligible. NTU recently supported the Seniors’ Tax Simplification Act of 2013, which would simplify the income tax filing process for those 65 and older. Read more from the Goldsboro Daily News. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
Latest Taxpayer's Tab: A Second Stimulus?
In the latest edition of the Taxpayer's Tab, NTUF took an in-depth look at H.R. 1617, the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act. Introduced by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), the bill is designed to combat high levels of unemployment by offering federally subsidized job training and placement. It would continue funding for some of the programs that were introduced in President Obama's landmark 2009 stimulus bill -- the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) -- as well as implement new job programs. The legislation would offer jobs to eligible unemployed citizens through various "Corps" programs. Some of the bill's main programs would include:
Although the bill does not include any specific offsets, Rep. Schakowsky has stated her intention to fund the bill's proposals by raising tax rates on households earning more than $1 million annually. By NTUF's estimates, the bill would increase federal spending by $227.9 billion over 5 years, or $45.6 billion annually. For more details on this bill and its sponsor, check out the Tab online here. To receive future editions via email, be sure to sign up here. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
The Late Edition: May 9, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! Pete Sepp weighs in on the future of the so-called “Marketplace Fairness Act” in this US News op-ed. Thanks to Governor Martin O'Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Marylanders will endure 40 different tax and fee increases totaling an additional $20 billion from 2007 through 2018. Read the full story from the Potomac Patch. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
The Late Edition: May 8, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! NTU’s Pete Sepp applauds Senator Rand Paul’s recent proposal to repeal the burdensome "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act" (FATCA), which taxes Americans abroad. Read the full story from the Wall Street Journal. This piece from cincinnati.com explains that not only does the President’s 2014 budget proposal raise taxes by $1.1 trillion over a decade and increase spending by $800 billion; it never balances. One of the drug manufacturers which originally supported and lobbied for “Obamacare” is now calling the law ‘catastrophic’, says the Daily Caller. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
The Late Edition: May 7, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! NTU’s Pete Sepp speaks about the negative effects of the “Marketplace Fairness Act”, which passed the Senate yesterday and is headed to the House to be voted on. Read more from the Christian Science Monitor. The federal government has managed to run a $489 billion dollar deficit since the fiscal year began, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy Act While NTUF highlights at least four newly-scored bills in our weekly newsletter, The Taxpayer's Tab, we have a lot of legislation that don't necessarily fall into the "Least Expensive" or "Most Friended" categories. So, as a supplement, here's another bill introduced in the 113th Congress that taxpayers may find interesting. Just as the bills that appear in the Tab, this is a preliminary score and may be updated with new information. The Bill: H.R. 1635, the National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy Act of 2013 Annualized Cost: $5 million ($10 million over two years)
To understand how current federal government policies interact with states, Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) has introduced H.R. 1635, which would create a 13-member commission. The National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy would investigate the costs, health effects, business compliance expenses, and potential solutions in bridging the laws between different levels of government. Similar to other short-term panels, members would be permitted to hear testimony and deliver a formal report to Congress one year after the Commission was established. The text of the bill would authorize a total of $10 million to be spent while the Commission is in operation. NTUF assumes that the spending would take place over two years. To receive the latest Taxpayer's Tab, subscribe here. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
Sen. Ted Cruz Condemns Marketplace “Fairness” Act In a scathing op-ed at RealClearPolitics.com yesterday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) launched a bold attack on S. 743, the Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA). The Senate is preparing to vote on final passage of the destructive tax legislation later today, and taxpayers can only hope that more Senators will take notice of the many serious reasons to oppose the bill that Cruz lays out: The misleadingly titled Marketplace Fairness Act is a job-killing tax hike, plain and simple. It is, in effect, a national Internet sales tax, which would hammer the little guy and benefit giant corporations. Senators who vote for it are voting to impose audits, compliance costs, lost wages, and inefficiency on small businesses in every state. And they are potentially crippling an engine of new job creation at a time of economic struggle. This bill will not create jobs; it will not create new opportunities; and it will not create the economic growth our country needs and our people deserve. The Senator goes on to explain that “Big business supports this bill because it will drive smaller competitors off the Internet and out of business.” When our economic growth is still in jeopardy and newly minted college graduates are facing a dismal jobs market, to support legislation that spells death by a thousand cuts via costly burdens for small businesses is legislative malpractice. Sen. Cruz also points out what should be a fundamental concern to Senators: Last but not least, this bill doesn’t pass constitutional muster. The MFA overturns the fundamental idea that states’ taxing authority ends at their borders. The Supreme Court has said that an out-of-state business could subject itself to a state's taxing power if due-process concerns are satisfied, namely that the business purposefully targets its activities in that state. But because pure Internet sales by their nature don't target any one state, this legislation presents a serious constitutional problem. It is definitely worth your time to read the whole thing. But the anti-MFA fun doesn’t stop there, Sen. Cruz kept up the attack by posting this awesome video with a short, to the point, explanation of exactly what is at stake if the dreaded MFA passes. You can help support Sen. Cruz’s fight against MFA by calling your Senators TODAY. It will only take two minutes (one for each Senator) and your call could make a big difference in this important fight. Go here to find our toll-free taxpayer hotline and more information on how you can join the fight. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
The Taxpayer’s Tab, Plus Americans on ObamaCare and Excise Taxes - Speaking of Taxpayers, May 3 Subscribe to NTU's podcast "Speaking of Taxpayers" via iTunes!
NTUF's Dan Barrett joins Pete and Doug to discuss the latest Taxpayer's Tab issues, plus new polls reveal Americans' lukewarm reaction to ObamaCare and excise taxes for junk foods.
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The Late Edition: May 6, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! The Reason Foundation weighs in on the federally funded municipal broadband program, and includes NTU’s analysis of Utah’s costly UTOPIA initiative. The New York Times takes a look at ever-increasing airline taxes, and possibilities on the table for the future of air travel. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
Foundation Summer Internship Spots Still Available Looking for an opportunity? Hoping to find out what really goes on in government? Betting you can make a difference for the future of the free market? The National Taxpayers Union Foundation's Summer Program might be your ticket to a promising career in policy research or communications! As an Associate Policy Analyst, you will meet the movers and shakers of the Washington, DC nonprofit political scene while developing the skills it takes to thrive in the ever-changing world of government spending, taxes, and long-term solutions to America's mounting fiscal problems. We won't hand you a coffee order or put your desk at the copy machine. Analysts get real legislation and the expectation to research their impact on the wallets of taxpayers. It's an experience, not a homework assignment. Writing about the issues facing Americans is also a key part of the program. Our Associate Policy Analysts' letters and opinion pieces have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Times. Past interns have gone on to earn PhDs and MBAs, work on Capitol Hill, and excel in the free market nonprofit community. Did we also mention that NTU Foundation is just outside of Washington, DC on the Metro line? We're only ten minutes away from other influential institutions, major universities, and the heart of the federal government. Details: NTUF's policy research is centered on the federal budget and government programs. We work hard to educate the public on what spending our elected officials are pushing for. If you're looking for a typical internship, this program is not for you. Associate Policy Analysts are expected to score legislation, write blog and newsletter articles, and come up with insightful research opportunities. For more information and to apply to the program, go here. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
Spectrum Conundrum Last year’s “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act” extended a number of tax provisions, including payroll tax reductions, unemployment insurance, and Medicare payment rates. Most of the legislation has since expired, but buried deep in the bill’s 102 pages was perhaps its most important provision – one that remains very relevant today. Sections 6101 to 6103 of the law require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction off a large chunk of electromagnetic spectrum. This may sound like technical gobbledygook, but these auctions of federally-owned airwaves could foster economic growth and tremendously benefit both the deficit-plagued government by raising billions of dollars without hiking taxes, as well as telecommunications consumers by allowing for further deployment of advanced broadband networks. Deficit reduction, job creation, telecommunications improvements – it sounds like a huge win for everyone. But these benefits could be undermined by the bureaucracy. In April, the Department of Justice recommended that the FCC limit the auction to effectively bar the largest two telecommunications companies – Verizon and AT&T – from participating. This threatens both the optimal deployment of the spectrum as well as the financial benefits that the federal government could reap. In fact, a new paper from Georgetown University’s Center for Business and Public Policy says the cost of following DOJ’s approach could be $12 billion of federal revenues and over 118,000 jobs. And due to complicated auction rules, less of the spectrum would likely be available for advanced broadband technologies, meaning consumers would lose out, too. This is unacceptable. The spectrum auction is important to economic growth and technological advancement. The FCC should not follow DOJ’s advice and rig the process to benefit some companies at the expense of taxpayers and consumers. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
Sandy Relief Act for Fisheries: $193 Million Cost While NTUF highlights at least four newly-scored bills in our weekly newsletter, The Taxpayer's Tab, we have a lot of legislation that don't necessarily fall into the "Least Expensive" or "Most Friended" categories. So, as a supplement, here's another bill introduced in the 113th Congress that taxpayers may find interesting. Just as the bills that appear in the Tab, this is a preliminary score and may be updated with new information. The Bill: H.R. 1445, the Sandy Disaster Fisheries Relief Act Annualized Cost: $96.5 million ($193 million over two years)
The Sandy Disaster Fisheries Relief Act would authorize NOAA to spend up to $193 million between 2013 and 2014. Funding would be limited to operations, research, and maintenance of fishing-related facilities and channels still recovering from Sandy. Since the spending would be deemed as an emergency measure, spending limitations related to any budgetary caps or sequestration would not apply, and therefore be wholly counted as new spending. There are no offsets included in the proposal. Note: The sponsor's office confirmed that the text of the bill contained a drafting error that authorized "$193,000,000,000" instead of "$193,000,000" as detailed in a press release. Under BillTally rules, NTUF scores the intention of legislation and so will record the potential spending as a $193 million new two-year cost. To receive the latest Taxpayer's Tab, subscribe here. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
Latest Taxpayer's Tab: Fire Safety, Helium Sales
Featured in this week's edition of the Taxpayer's Tab are some of the most recent bills to come across our desks here at NTUF. As part of our BillTally research project, we've been scoring the latest proposals from lawmakers in Congress to give taxpayers an idea of what sort of impact certain legislation could have on the federal budget. The largest net savings bill this week was the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act, introduced by Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA). Essentially, H.R. 527 would authorize the Bureau of Land Management to sell helium supplies in the Federal Helium Reserve to pay for the cost of operating the Reserve. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill could generate a net of $410 million in offsetting receipts over 5 years, or $82 million per year. Also featured this week:
For more information on these bills and their sponsors, check out the Tab online here. To receive future updates via email, sign up for the Tab by clicking here. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
The Late Edition: May 2, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! NTUF’s Dan Barrett weighs in on the spending records of four U.S. House members from New Jersey who may run for the Senate in 2014. Fiscally conservative groups are warning Congress that any attempt to raise the debt-ceiling will need to include a balanced budget amendment, according to The Hill. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
The Late Edition: May 1, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! NTU’s Michael Tasselmyer writes on the defense debate brewing over cutting off funding for Abrams tank production in this budgetpriorities.org piece. With just 35 percent of Americans holding a favorable view of ObamaCare, Democrats are worried their chances in the 2014 midterm elections could be hindered, says Politico. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
House Members’ Agendas: Four Potentials in the New Jersey 2014 Senate Race The potential candidate field for New Jersey's opening Senate seat has thus far been hotly contested. Many in the state's political establishment have criticized Mayor Cory Booker (D) for leap-frogging other officials "waiting for their turn" to be sworn in as the next Senator from the Garden State. There are also four potential candidates currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives that might run as well: Congressmen Rush Holt (D), Leonard Lance (R), Frank Pallone (D), and Jon Runyan (R). What can taxpayers expect from them? For pundits and taxpayers alike, it's difficult to know what agendas the candidates would push for as Senators. Some look at the vision or platform to see what the candidates would bring to the state of New Jersey, while others look at the past actions of individuals. While NTUF will look at the former of these views in the future, I will use what's available through the Foundation's research to see where these four are coming from in terms of their past spending agendas. The BillTally project looks at the total changes in spending as proposed by Members of Congress and the Senate. Think of BillTally as the agenda that elected officials would enact if given the keys to the federal budget. Congressman Rush Holt is serving in his eighth term in the House. Among other past assignments, he serves on the Committees on Education and the Workforce and on Natural Resources, where he is the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. Of Representative Holt’s supported legislation and unlike his party colleague, his largest spending proposals have been instituting a single-payer health care system in the U.S., creating a Department of Peace, and improving elementary and middle school education. Representative Holt’s savings bills have called for some health care efficiencies and environmental legislation that would collect more royalties from energy producers. For 13 terms, Congressman Frank Pallone has served in the House. He is currently the Ranking Member of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Additionally, he is on the Natural Resources Committee. Some of the legislation that increase spending includes larger subsidies for government employees' health care and a call for the continuation of the Child Health Insurance Program. Like Congressman Holt, savings bills that Pallone has supported would also increase offsetting receipts from energy producers and reform how disabled individuals receive health care.
What both Democrats have supported in the past:
On the Republican side, both potential Senate candidates have had shorter federal careers and in turn less of a fiscal footprint on the budget. Congressman Leonard Lance has been in Congress since 2009 and serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources. In the 111th Congress, he supported health care purchasing pools that would increase outlays and also the repeal of spending authority of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). More recently, Representative Lance supported legislation dealing with pediatric brain injuries and changing policies that states are required to follow under the Medicaid program. Serving in his second term as a Representative, Congressman Jon Runyan is on the Armed Services, Natural Resources, and Veterans Affairs Committees. He has moved to reform medical liability law and to remove the spending cap on Medicare outpatient patients in rehabilitation.
Overlapping Fiscal Policies Supported by Both Republicans:
At one point or another, all four of the candidates have supported removing the cap on veterans receiving concurrent payments, which would increase federal spending. Currently, former servicemembers can only get so much of their pension and disability benefits per month. The Congressmen who might enter into the New Jersey Senate race would allow veterans to get full payments from both benefits systems. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
On Defense Budget, Army Fighting Congress If it was up to General Ray Odierno, Congress wouldn't allocate $436 million towards building and upgrading new Abrams tanks. "[W]e would use that money in a different way," the Army chief of staff said recently. The issue? Lawmakers (particularly in Ohio, where many production plants are located) are reluctant to cut off funding for the Abrams tank program, which provides jobs for industrial workers and a steady source of revenue for defense contractors. So even though the Army has explicitly stated that it doesn't need the nearly half billion dollars in federal support for the program, Congress wants to spend the money anyway. The push for more tank funding comes on the heels of the Defense Department's 2014 budget request, which made clear that it wants to avoid the budget cuts it's facing after sequestration -- the request included $526.6 billion in discretionary spending, more than $52 billion above the amount allowed under the provisions of the Budget Control Act. Included in that total are proposals to fund costly programs such as the F-35 fighter jet renovations ($8.4 billion), nuclear attack submarines ($5.4 billion), and additional funding for "cyber operations" ($4.7 billion). What's more, the existing Army tank force is, on average, less than 3 years old. According to the AP:
Last year, over 170 Members of Congress supported additional tank funding. Members on both sides of the aisle who continue to support the investment program cite the boon it provides to local economies. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) said "People can't sit around for three years on unemployment insurance and wait for the government to come back. ... That supply chain is going to be much more costly and much more inefficient to create if you mothball the plant." 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
This Impressive Slate of Opinion Pieces Explains Why the “Marketplace Fairness Act” is Terrible The federal online sales tax mandate known as the “Marketplace Fairness Act” has gained ground in the Senate, and should face a final vote there next week. Sen. Reid has attempted to push it through without going through the normal process of analysis and debate. The op-eds below offer all the reasons why Reid is avoiding exposing this unconstitutional scheme to the light of day – “MFA” will crush interstate tax competition and open the door to more state cash grabs. Sen. Rand Paul writes in the Washington Times: An ill-advised Internet tax mandate Sen. Jim DeMint writes in the Wall Street Journal: Jim DeMint: No Internet Taxation Without Representation Professor Michael Greve writes in Forbes: The Internet Sales Tax Reveals Its Foolish Head Yet Again Megan McArdle writes in the Daily Beast: The Real Problem With the Internet Sales Tax The Misnamed Marketplace Fairness Act The Wall Street Journal writes: 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
Satirical Video of ActionAid Canvassers Promoting “Drive Aid” Check out this satirical video created by ActionAid to highlight the need for reforms like those in the “Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Reform Act", which NTU supported. The reforms would prioritize food for families over fuel for cars. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
The Late Edition: April 29, 2013 Today’s Taxpayer News! NTU’s Pete Sepp weighs in on the complications of collecting “back taxes” as a possible part of immigration reform in this USA Today article. The International Dairy Foods Association recently threw its support behind the “Dairy Freedom Act”, which NTU supports. Read more from the Dairy Herd. 0 Comments | Post a Comment | Sign up for NTU Action Alerts
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