National Taxpayers Union (NTU) on Tuesday named U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) Taxpayer Defender of the Month for his leadership ending government shutdowns and fighting against earmarks in appropriations bills.
Sen. Johnson’s Eliminate Government Shutdowns Act would prevent shutdowns by ensuring that, if Congress fails to pass spending bills on time, federal agencies automatically continue operating at current funding levels for rolling two week periods. The bill would keep the government open and spending flat, allowing Congress to debate spending priorities without the distraction of looming deadlines.
“Senator Johnson has been a champion for taxpayers,” NTU Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold said. “This award recognizes his efforts to combat congressional budget dysfunction and put an end to government shutdowns.”
Earmarks, officially known as “Community Project Funding,” are wasteful projects appended to appropriations bills that are allocated federal funding for political reasons. Sen. Johnson introduced a resolution along with Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) calling for a permanent ban on earmarks.
“With $38 trillion in debt, America simply cannot afford irresponsible spending. Eliminating earmarks is a step toward stopping massive deficit spending and ending the inflation crisis that is crushing American families,” Sen. Johnson said.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on Tuesday was named Taxpayer Defender of the Month for his work on ending government shutdowns and fighting against earmarks. Pictured with National Taxpayers Union Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold.
The Taxpayer Defender award honors leaders who go above and beyond to protect taxpayers through transparency, fiscal discipline, and principled leadership.
Each month, NTU selects one leader who demonstrates a clear, consistent commitment to limiting taxes, spending, and regulation at every level of government. Previous award winners include House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Anyone can nominate a Taxpayer Defender of the Month on the National Taxpayers Union website.
National Taxpayers Union is the only free-market organization for taxpayers that unites effective advocacy with useful research about how to limit taxes, spending, and regulation at every level and branch of government—state, federal, administrative, and judicial.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on Tuesday was named Taxpayer Defender of the Month for his work on ending government shutdowns and fighting against earmarks. Pictured with National Taxpayers Union Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold.