Friends of ATR

U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann: Just Say "No"!

noreply@blogger.com (bird's eye viewer) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:10:00 +0000

U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann explains in today's Examiner why she has vowed not to take any earmarks, and why her fellow Members of Congress would be well-advised to do the same:

"As a former tax litigation attorney, I know what high taxes can do to a family. My heart goes out to those Americans who are scraping everything together hoping to make it to their next pay day because our government can’t control its pork.
This does not have to be the case. Americans should not be expected to foot these bills. Members can stand up to the broken system and pledge not to give in. They can say “no” to the hidden incentives behind each project and give their word to their constituents and the American people that the family budget is a priority, not the federal one."

They can and they should.

Those afraid to swear off earmarks for political reasons need to look no further than California, where state Sen. Tom McClintock, an outspoken opponent of earmarks, handily beat the candidate who pledged to bring home the bacon in the primary for an open U.S. House seat.

The question is: Will they?

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:06:00 +0000

Virginia Republicans stand firm against increased taxes in special session.

Impeachment efforts begin for Illinois governor over state debt.

Gas tax hike a “last resort” for NJ transportation funding.

Georgia gas tax freeze to save taxpayers $80 million.

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:51:00 +0000

A token gesture to taxpayers: Delaware lawmakers forgo further tax increases in budget session.

Missouri Gov. Blunt enacts taxpayer-friendly property legislation.

Connecticut GOP calls for special legislative session over gas prices.

Georgia state agencies to trim budgets by 3-4% for the new fiscal year.

Majority of Voters Want Right To Approve All Tax Hikes

noreply@blogger.com (LTRBTB) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:01:00 +0000

Some very interesting results from a new Rasmussen poll:

52% say the government doesn't need additional tax revenue to fund the basics of government
57% say that the people should have a chance to vote a tax hike up or down before it goes into effect
51% say that Barack Obama will raise taxes if he's elected President

Clearly, voters are willing to be told the truth about taxes. Taxes are already high enough, and Barack Obama wants to raise them even more.

SCOTUS Sides with Employers and Workers; Not Unions

noreply@blogger.com (Market_Madness) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:32:00 +0000

Recently, the US Supreme Court has overturned a California state law which prohibited publically funded institutions (think Hospitals) from using any money to educate for or against labor union organizing campaigns.

In a historic 7-2 decision, the Court overwhelmingly sided with workers and employers.

Justice Stevens wrote, according to the Examiner, “for all practical purposes’ the spending restriction was ‘tantamount to regulation’ of speech.”

Several groups, including the Alliance for Worker Freedom, support this ruling and hope that other state laws prohibiting this measure are overturned.

AWF Executive Director Brian Johnson appeared on radio in Southern California to discuss just this.

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:12:00 +0000

Governor Jindal reverses decision, vetoes vetoes legislative pay-raise.
Massachusetts lawmakers to raise corporate taxes by $500 million this year.
Too little, too late: New Jersey governor Corzine slashes budget, curbs future spending.
Pennsylvania’s $28 billion budget saves citizens from tax increases.

Jindal Sticks to His Word, Champions the Taxpayer

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:25:00 +0000

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced today that he vetoed the state legislature's attempt to give themselves a 200 percent pay increase (down from 300 percent at the bill's inception). Jindal's veto came despite being cornered by legislators who threatened to block any of his reform initiatives if he did not comply.

"I was trying to preserve our reform agenda and our momentum by tolerating this legislative pay raise that I knew was completely excessive. But the two cannot coexist,” Jindal explained.

Initially, Jindal adamantly opposed the bill, but claimed he would allow it to be enacted without his signature. Public outcry, especially through grassroots and editorial opposition, demanded that the legislature withdraw the bill.

"I have opposed this pay raise at every turn and from the very beginning. A doubling of legislative pay is clearly excessive and it takes effect prior to the next election, which I believe is bad policy," Jindal said. "This bill would also have set up a system to give legislators automatic pay raises in the future without additional legislative votes - which is a lack of accountability that we cannot accept."

This measure is just one of many that Governor Jindal has used to institute ethics and transparency reforms in Louisiana.

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:46:00 +0000

Virginia governor and legislators in gridlock over transportation bill.

Schwarzenegger’s proposed 'fire fee' draws controversy in light of recent wildfires.

Kansas governor asks for state agencies to cut spending by 1-2%.

Pennsylvania budget compromise reached; government shutdown avoided.

Same Old Same Old

noreply@blogger.com (Grover G. Norquist) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:27:00 +0000

Barack Obama has been promoting himself as the candidate of change, but his policy positions are all retreads. There is no difference between his present “change” position and those of Jimmy Carter in 1980, Walter Mondale in 1984, Mike Dukakis in 1988, Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. They all support higher taxes, more spending, more regulations, no parental control over education , more union power over workers and gun control. All were boxed in by the non-negotiable demands of the labor union bosses, the big city political machines and the billionaire trial lawyers. Same play, different actors. As noted in 2004, John Kerry was simply Mike Dukakis with a tan and now Obama is John Kerry with a tan.

Obama is presenting himself differently than Jimmy Carter did in 1976 and The Clinton’s did in 1992 and 1996—the three successful democratic races in the past forty years.

Norquist Spells Out Five Reasons for Republican Optimism

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:48:00 +0000

Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, published an op-ed today in the Financial Times. "How America's right will be roused into action" explains that the membership in the "Leave Us Alone Coalition," referenced in Norquist's Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns and Our Lives, is ever-growing and ever-vigiliant in opposing the "sharp edges of the Democrats' agenda."

The New Affirmative Action: Dems Step Up to Shut Up Conservatives

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:21:00 +0000

A recent article by John Gizzi of Human Events exposed U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s intentions of blocking an up-or-down vote for the permanent ban of the so-called Fairness Doctrine.

At a recent Christian Science Monitor event, Pelosi revealed that if Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) failed to obtain the number of signatures needed to force a vote, she would not allow one to occur.

Not only has Pelosi been active in preventing a vote on the ban of the Fairness Doctrine, but she has also encouraged the anti-First Amendment law’s revival.

The Fairness Doctrine, repealed in the 1980s by the Reagan Administration, required that broadcasters allow equal time for opposing opinions on airwaves. If reinstated today, stations would be forced to air Al Franken for the same amount of time Rush Limbaugh broadcasts, even if Franken’s audience size, and in turn, advertising revenues, are far lower than Limbaugh’s.

The Media Freedom Project’s hypocrisycaucus.org named 106 Democrats in Congress as “Hypocrites” for voting for the one-year repeal of the Fairness Doctrine but refusing to support its permanent ban.

Apparently, these hypocrites recognize the inability of liberal commentators to generate audiences on their own and instead, need government intervention in our airwaves and markets to ensure their voices are heard.

Photo courtesy of publiuspundit.com.

So This is What the End of the Era of Earmarks Looks Like?

noreply@blogger.com (bird's eye viewer) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Earmarks Persist in Spending Bills for 2009 - NYTimes.com

"Despite a pledge by Congressional leaders to reduce pork-barrel projects, new information shows that both the number and amount of earmarks have increased in several spending bills now making their way through Congress."

Maybe now would be a good time for fiscal conservatives to impose a unilateral moratorium. Why wait for the liberals to join them?

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:21:00 +0000

North Carolina lawmakers reach agreement on tax breaks for the upcoming fiscal year.

Bipartisan coalition in Rhode Island agrees on, state spending cuts, tax breaks for budget.

Arizona lawmakers avoid tax increases for this fiscal year.

Vermont citizens may face property tax hike in upcoming months.

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:44:00 +0000

California regulators announce plan for state-wide carbon credit trading under questionable cost-benefit analysis.

Illinois Governor Blagojevich hoping for new revenues instead of promised spending cuts.

Blue-Cross considers for-profit status in New Jersey in the face of employee concerns.

New Texas 'business' tax costs taxpayers up to $5.9 billion.

Hamilton County Transparency Scores Home-Run

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Taxpayers Hamilton County scored a big victory when the Board of Commissioners passed the Government Accountability in Spending Program (GASP), which will create a searchable online database of local spending. Not only was it passed unanimously, but the board ran all the way to home-plate with additions to the original resolution to give taxpayers the most comprehensive fiscal transparency possible.

The online database of county expenditures will offer the recipient information, the type of transaction, the expending agency, the budget program source, and a descriptive purpose of the funding action or expenditure. Commissioners added requirements to the original proposal that make contract language accessible, have a feedback option and a specific person in the Budget Office designated to respond to citizen concerns, and that the system allow citizens to view expenditures in a program of their choosing.

Hamilton County scores a home-run with the GASP measure as Ohio is holds onto first base with recently passed legislation similar to GASP. Many states getting into the game, Hamilton County proves that local governments can hold their own on behalf of taxpayers, who deserve to know where every dollar at every level of government is being spent.

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:28:00 +0000

Michigan interest group working to cut cut legislature pay & size for the November ballot.

Illinois Governor Blagojevich announces $1.5 billion in budget cuts.

New Jersey Governor Corzine will trim 2,144 positions from the state payroll in an effort to reduce state spending.

Texas legislature considering sales tax increase.

Predictions for Virginia transportation session outcome are fairly diverse.

IL Supreme Court Upholds Targeted Fleecing of a Single Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Chocolatey Shatner) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:01:00 +0000

With yesterday marking the three year anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s much decried Kelo decision, it is timely to call attention the recent decision by the Illinois Supreme Court to uphold the state’s ability to take from one private entity and give to another private (and politically well-connected) entity.

Where as eminent domain abuse involves the government taking of property from a private business or family in order to give to another private party (often a well-connected developer), the Illinois law that the state’s highest court recently ruled upon, and upheld, forces instate casinos grossing over $200 million annually to forfeit 3 percent of their revenue to the government, just to be handed directly over to state racetracks.

Just as well-connected developers benefit from eminent domain abuse, the race track owners that benefit from this odious state law are known to be very close with many lawmakers in Springfield.

Click here to read the Chicago Tribune’s article on this matter.

But I Thought Market Forces Determined Prices…

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:58:00 +0000

The new buzz word amongst the media and liberal politicians is speculation. First, what is speculation? Financial speculation is the trading of assets (stock, currencies, commodities, etc.) to profit from fluctuations. For example, if you think the price of oil will continue to rise, you will buy a futures contract (aka “paper oil”). If the price you paid for the contract is less than the physical price of oil when the contract matures, you have successfully hedged against the market and profited (or simply saved money if you intend to use the oil). Speculators also provide the necessary market function of stabilizing prices when they are irrationally low or high. Irrationally high prices…sounds familiar, no? More importantly, these futures contracts do not affect the supply of physical oil, and therefore, do not affect the price of physical oil. This prevents the so-called “oil bubble” from forming, unlike in the housing market which can only deal in physical assets.

Nevertheless, speculation has become the popular scapegoat for the currently high energy prices. However, this opinion does not reflect economic reality. Jeffrey Harris, the chief economist of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has stated that the voices demanding increased regulation of oil futures trading are confusing the cause with the effect. It is likely that the rising prices are spurring the increased investment, rather than the other way around. Additionally, a recent survey by The Wall Street Journal found 89% of the 55 economists surveyed attribute the rising energy prices to fundamental market forces driven by supply and demand.

And of course, what would be a defense of basic market principles without a quote by Milton Friedman: “People who argue that speculation is destabilizing seldom realize that this is largely equivalent to saying that speculators lose money, since speculation can be destabilizing in general only if speculators on the average sell when the currency (commodity) is low in price and buy when it is high.” (They don’t).

Trial Lawyers Drool Over Left Wing Pork

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:57:00 +0000

When does the Left favor tax cuts for the rich? When those receiving the cuts are trial lawyers funding the liberal agenda. Buried deep inside H.R. 6049, a $55.5 billion tax bill, lies a $1.575 billion tax break that goes only and directly to the trial bar. Currently, trial lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis “front” certain litigation costs which are accounted for as loans to the client. These loans cannot be written off until categorized as bad debt. H.R. 6049 would allow these costs to be immediately deducted as a business expense, furthering the pathway for trial lawyers to profit from frivolous litigation and scare tactics. The fact that the left has repeatedly blocked attempts to allow small businesses to engage in similar expensing practices is indicative of not only blatant favoritism but a willingness to be bought. But perhaps trial lawyers deserve to pay fewer taxes because of all the social good they are doing. Consider the firm that sued Netflix and collected over $2 million while the plaintiffs each received a free month of DVD rentals.

This measure is little more than evidence of the Left’s hypocrisy and an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of constituents. There is absolutely no reason why tax laws should favor John Edwards and the like over the average small businessmen who create the majority of our nation’s jobs.

For more on this and other cases of government waste, check out the ATR website

ATR, Norquist in the News

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:41:00 +0000

Here are just a few of the mentionable press clips featuring Americans for Tax Reform or its President Grover Norquist this week:

"Offshore Drilling Ban Hurting Families," by Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, as appearing in the Hawaii Reporter (Tuesday, June 24, 2008).
"McClintock!," by David Weigel, as appearing on Reason Magazine's blog (Tuesday, June 24, 2008), discusses the American Spectator breakfast held this morning in conjunction with Americans for Tax Reform in ATR's office.
"How to Make a Good Bill Great," by Sandra Fabry, State Affairs Manager of Americans for Tax Reform, as appearing in the Examiner (Thursday, June 19, 2008).
"The Evolution of John McCain," by CNNMoney.com Editor-at-Large David Whitford (Monday, June 23, 2008).
"Obama and McCain on Tax Reform," by Chris Farrell, as appearing in BusinessWeek (Monday, June 23, 2008).

When Unions Have Friends Like These...

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:01:00 +0000

Sometimes it just seems like the enemy does your work for you. We’ve known for a while now that card check was bad news. It denies workers their right to a fair election by means of a secret ballot. It opens up the decision to unionize to intimidation by union thugs.

Simply put, it is a last ditch effort by unions to hold onto what little power they have left and attempt to regain some of their old glory.

Many have recognized card check for what it is. After today, no one should have any doubt.

The reason why is that card check recently received a ringing endorsement – from the Communist Party USA. And we all remember how great the Soviet Union was for workers.

For more on this and other labor issues make sure to visit the Alliance for Worker Freedom's website.

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:35:00 +0000

Broad coalition of interest groups oppose, support Florida 'tax swap' Amendment 5.

Arizona House Republicans unveil $500 million in spending cuts.

Florida’s U.S Sugar Corporation expected sale to affect state's economy.

Massachusetts expected to give $3.5 million tax break to JPMorgan Chase & Co. tomorrow amidst conflict.

Happy Kelo Day!

noreply@blogger.com (bullpenhero) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:33:00 +0000

On this day, three years ago, the Supreme Court ruled against Susette Kelo, effectively handing over her property to the municipal government of New London, Connecticut. Although Justice Kennedy, in his concurring opinion, attempted to make the rationale for such takings more objective, the Court ultimately gave each level of government carte blanche in scope. Economic development is a far cry from the wording of the Takings Clause in the Fifth Amendment: “nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation [emphasis added].”

Three years later, what “public use” was served by this encroachment on private property rights? Three years and $78 million in taxpayer funding have resulted in ZERO economic development. In fact, construction has not started on any of the 90 acres allocated for the site. The Institute for Justice has noted that the disputed properties, such as the Kelo residence, made up only two acres of the “planned” site. In no way did the case prevent the city from developing the remaining 88 acres for “public use”. According to IJ Senior Attorney Dana Berliner, “The developer was so desperate for funding that it applied to the federal Housing and Urban Development agency to obtain taxpayer-subsidized loans to build luxury apartments on the land where Susette’s neighborhood once stood.” Luxury apartments…so much for the “public use” of yet another unjustified land seizure. The developer has since been removed from the project.

Click here to help IJ end eminent domain abuse by joining the Susette Kelo Liberty Club.

“Together, we will send a powerful message to tax-hungry politicians and land-hungry developers: It is time to stop these land grabs.” – Susette Kelo

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:29:00 +0000

Alaska Gov. Palin proposes gas tax suspension, $1200 rebate check for Alaska citizens.

New Jersey governor finding ways to face $32 billion state debt.

N.Y Governor Paterson, lawmakers drawing close to pension reform agreement.

Connecticut special session repeals scheduled gas tax increase, extends real estate conveyance tax.

Ear To The Ground - State News Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Sherlock Hound) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Governor Kaine reveals details of Virginia’s special transportation session, calls for $1 billion in additional taxes.

Delaware unveils ‘balanced budget’ that is fraught with $82.6 million in tax hikes.

State spending expected to drop in upcoming years.

New Hampshire budget trimmed down substantially.