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INDEX

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Monday, March 8, 2010

Friday, March 5, 2010

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Monday, March 1, 2010

Energy Tax Hike Series: Superfund Tax Reinstated

Friday, February 26, 2010

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Pwned!
Paul Ryan on Healthcare and Deficits

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Economic Issues Dominate at the Bloggers Briefing

From Amir Iljazi on Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:14 PM

This week’s Blogger’s Briefing, hosted by The Heritage Foundation, gave an in-depth look at one of the most important issues that is currently in the hands of Congress, but not really in the minds of the American people: Financial Regulatory Reform. Health Care has dominated the headlines, but the issues coming into the fray with Financial Regulatory Reform are becoming increasingly important as the Congress moves ever closer to legislative action. The featured speakers took on this issue by looking at it through the eyes of the overall state of the Economy and recent publications that have showed the degree of decline that the US has seen over the last few years, most notably the Index of Economic Freedom; and then a closer look at what Congress is doing to “repair” the financial sector.

Bill Beach, Director of The Heritage Foundation's Center for Data Analysis, discussed the recently released Index of Economic Freedom and other indexes relating to it. This is the 16^th year they have published the study; but what is important about this year was that the United States, for the first time, earned a distinction in the index that they had never earned before: “For the 1^st time in the sixteen year history of the index, the United States was scored as a mostly free country.” The index has usually rated the United States as a “free” index, so this was something of extreme importance in terms of where the United States is at as a country with regard to the state of our economy. He also talked about Heritage’s Index on Dependence on Government, and how for the United States it has risen over 31% in less than a decade. Beach made the point about how in the last 40-plus years the ways in which civil-society dependency is something that is lacking because people are no longer being “helped, to get stronger.” Beach also described the effect this has on those receiving the aid: “We become a number, we become a statistic,” and he described how the incentive is taken away when Government becomes the sole caretaker. He also talked about reforming the tax system in the country, “tax reform is desperately needed.” The theme that Beach continued to stress is that the recently released indexes are showing a pattern of decline, a decline in the trends and momentum of the US Economy.

To continue reading about this week's Bloggers Briefing, click "read more" below

Pushback Against EPA’s Attempts to Regulate Carbon Emissions Grows

From Brian M Johnson on Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:59 AM

Americans for Tax Reform applauds the letters sent by business leaders and governors supporting Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) resolution of disapproval which would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing economically-harmful regulations on stationary sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

“If Senators were wondering what Americans thought about the EPA’s backdoor attempts to regulate greenhouse gases, these letters will dispel any illusions that such unprecedented measures are tolerable,” said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. “People see this as an attempt to subvert the will of the American people their elected officials, and they are angry about it.”

Click here for the Governor's letter and here for the broad-based industry letter.

Click "read more" to view ATR's full press release or get the PDF document.

Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidate Running on a Platform of Tax Hikes

From Joshua Culling on Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:50 AM

The Minnesota DFL (the state's Democratic party) has a crowded field for the 2010 gubernatorial race, with about 10 credible candidates vying for the nominate. One of them is Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook), the Chairman of the Senate Tax Committee and a darling of organized labor. Sen. Bakk has wasted little time in showing his true colors to prospective voters, introducing a bill this session that would extend the sales tax to clothing, a $300 million annual tax increase.

The tax hike is coupled with a flimsy promise to cut the overall sales tax from 6.5% to 6.25% in the future. It's the classic "broaden the tax base now, lower the overall rate later" ploy. First, Minnesotans can reasonably expect the future cut in the overall rate to be delayed or ignored down the road. Second, broadening the tax base is only acceptable if the corresponding rate cut at least offsets the additional revenue increase. That's not the case with Sen. Bakk's proposal.

Unsurprisingly, the Senate Education Committee took a voice vote on the bill this morning. They avoided putting the vote on record because they understand the implications for lawmakers who choose to raise taxes in the middle of a recession.

Gov. Pawlenty is on record in opposition to this and any tax increases this year. He prefers spending restraint and tax cuts for the business community to spur job creation and economic growth.

To see the full text of ATR's opposition to this bill, click Read More. For a PDF copy, click here.

Michigan Jobs Ain't What They Used To Be...Unless You Work For The Government

From Brett Gall on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:52 PM

Currently home to the worst state unemployment rate in the nation at 14.3% and with some counties facing almost 19% unemployment at the start of 2010 (higher than the state record unemployment rate of 16.8% following the 1982 stock market crash), Michigan residents are in dire need of jobs. However, a job sure isn’t what it used to be…unless, of course, you work for the government!

According to an article by the Michigan Taxpayer Alliance, compensation for Michigan's private sector citizens decreased by 10.3% between 2007 and the third quarter of 2009. This makes sense in light of the national economic situation. What doesn’t make sense is that during this period, state and local government employee compensation increased by 5.5% while federal government employee compensation rose 7.5%.

What accounts for this disparity and Michigan’s vast unemployment? The national economic downtown combined with Governor Jennifer Granholm’s vast tax increases, especially on private businesses. In past years Granholm pushed to increase income taxes, expand service taxes, raise sin taxes, hike business taxes and decrease Michigan’s ability to compete with other states for business. This has led to billions of dollars in higher taxes and tax proposals since 2007.

The Michigan Taxpayer Alliance article also noted in its article that state employees were scheduled to receive a 3% pay increase this year. According to The Detroit News, Senate Appropriations Chairman Ron Jelinek, an opponent of the pay raise, said, "This is the real world, the real economy of 2010. We are not proposing pay cuts; we are proposing to not raise pay three percent." This is a necessary distinction for those who would protest worker pay cuts. The pay increase recently passed in the state Senate with a 22-15 vote.

With a dragging economy and unemployment rates approaching record highs, taxes should be cut to put money in the pockets of the taxpayers and promote private enterprise. If the government does not raise taxes (as it shouldn’t) then it possesses a limited source of revenue. The distribution of this revenue should not be further aimed at public employees whose compensation has risen as private sector compensation has declined, but towards basic and necessary services. If the government wishes to pay for both these services and pay increases, the only way to do both is through eventual tax hikes or bonding. Both tax hikes and deficit spending or bonding would be counterproductive to Michigan interests.

ATR and CFA Support Earmark Moratorium

From Sandra Fabry on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:26 PM

The following is cross-posted at www.fiscalaccountability.org:

Tomorrow, the House GOP Conference will meet to discuss a self-imposed unilateral earmark moratorium for FY2011. We're supporting the effort, because, as we've stated in our letter:

Taxpayers have become increasingly frustrated with the Congressional practice of earmarking. The process lacks transparency and accountability and the results are often frivolous and wasteful.

While overall spending levels and a lack of general spending discipline continue to be the main problem, earmarks have become emblematic of what taxpayers perceive as the problem in Washington, DC.

Click here for a PDF version of the letter.

Photo credit: John Morris

Voter Fraud in the Name of Tax Hikes

From Kelly William Cobb on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 3:58 PM

The Democrat controlled Washington Legislature has been licking their lips over the prospect of drastically raising taxes ever since voters approved Initiative 960 back in 2007. The measure established a 2/3 supermajority vote for the legislature to raise taxes.

Well, in late February, tax-and-spend lawmakers got their wish and voted to suspend the I-960 roadblock, singlehandedly opening the floodgate for recent tax increases. The vote against I-960 was especially important for House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, who led the recent $680 million tax hike vote in the House. It was so important for her agenda in fact, that she committed voter fraud to help pass it on a narrow 51-47 margin.

Above is a picture of House Majority Leader Kessler voting to suspend I-960. The only problem is she's voting on behalf of Rep. Jeff Morris, her absent seatmate, after she had already cast her vote. The Evergreen Freedom Foundation, which broke the story, has evidence that this occurred multiple times on the House floor during this and other votes.

These actions are downright fraudulent and an embarrassing display of corrupt governance by lawmakers who evidently feel nothing but contempt for representative democracy. If Washingtonians wanted a pseudo-Kingdom where Rep. Kessler and friends could rule however they saw fit, they wouldn't have established a legislature in Article 2 of the State Constitution, or the House rules that bar such practice. Further, if Washingtonians wanted what Rep. Kessler must commit voter fraud to achieve (namely at least $680 million in higher taxes), they wouldn't have approved I-960 requiring the 2/3 supermajority rule for tax hikes in the first place.

In other news, Washington State's Constitution under Article II, Section 9 also allows the House to expel a member found in contempt for violating the rules - again with a 2/3 vote of the chamber. Maybe Rep. Kessler can lend her skills to lower that standard to a simple majority vote as well. Then they can hold another vote - this time to throw her out.

H/T Evergreen Freedom Foundation

Green Jobs FAIL

From Tim Andrews on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 2:11 PM

The Economist newspaper is hosting a debate on whether creating "green jobs is a sensible aspiration for governments". On one side is Professor Andrew Morriss, from the University of Illinois, and on the other, disgraced Marxist and 9/11 "truther" Van Jones (hardly a fair fight really!).

As Morriss rightly points out, "Governments should not try to choose technological winners and losers and so they should not promote "green" (or "red" or "purple") jobs...we know how to improve energy efficiency, develop new technologies and create new jobs: unleash entrepreneurs and take advantage of markets".

As we have noted previously, in Spain, for every "green job" created 2.2 jobs were lost, and in Germany, the government subsidy required to produce just one green job can be as high as €175,000, or $US240,000.

We strongly encourage you to go to the Economist's website, read Morriss' well thought out piece, and vote for truth, freedom, and creating real jobs!

The Evergreen Tax and Fee Spree

From Robert Clemmer on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:37 PM

Washington suffers from a $2.8 billion overspending problem and it seems that the only remedy state lawmakers can come up with is to raise taxes...by a lot. In fact, the only creative “solution” legislators and Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) have for their spending addiction has been suspending the voter-approved Initiative 960, which established a two thirds vote to raise taxes.

Over the weekend, the Senate passed legislation to raise the cigarette tax to $3.025 per pack, hike the sales tax (devilishly calling it “temporary”) and expand it to services and items like bottled water, candy, and renege on tax cuts already made to businesses. The Senate’s package would raise taxes by $890 million. The Senate is also pushing a $130 million hike in license “fees” aimed directly at health care providers – raising the total taxes to well over $1 billion. Oh, and on top of that, Senate leadership wants to institute a state income tax, which it currently does not have.

Similarly, the State House just approved a $680 million tax package on Tuesday, which was aimed at numerous smaller tax hikes. The package would put the squeeze on:

Smokers with a $1 hike on the cigarette tax.
Consumers by extending the sales tax to bottled water, candy, software, and other services.
Job creators by extending the Business and Occupation gross receipts tax to out-of-state businesses (a likely unconstitutional move) and raising the tax on services such as lawyers and business consultants.

These taxes and fees would be disastrous for Washington. Excise taxes hurt those who cannot afford higher tax burdens and these attacks on businesses will not help Washington’s 9.5% unemployment rate.

However, if things get to tough for businesses and taxpayers there is another option. Idaho Governor Butch Otter sent a “love letter” to those in Washington inviting businesses and those who are fed up with debt and taxes to Idaho if these tax hikes become law.

ATR Staffer Testifies Before U.S. House Energy & Commerce Select Committee

From Americans for Tax Reform on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 9:15 AM

Today, at 9:30amEST, ATR Federal Affairs Manager handing energy and environmental tax and regulatory policy will be testifying as the only minority witness before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Special Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

The witness list is as follows:

Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director, Ohio Department of Development
Bryan Ashley, Chief Marketing Officer, Suniva Inc.
Paul Gaynor, Chief Executive Officer, First Wind Holdings LLC
Mary Ann Wright, Vice President and Managing Director, Business Accelerator Project, Johnson Controls, Inc.
Brian M. Johnson, Federal Affairs Manager, Americans for Tax Reform & Executive Director, Alliance for Worker Freedom

Click here for more information and to watch the hearing live.

Also, view Brian's full submitted testimony here.

The endemic rot in government run health care

From Tim Andrews on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 3:03 PM

We have previously, and on numerous occasions, highlighted the myriad of problems that exist in other countries who have the sort of government run healthcare that is the goal of the radical left. Case after case of neglect and abuse, leading to deaths that could easily have been prevented.

Those on the far left, in much the same way as a child might block their ears whilst jumping up and down shouting "I can't hear you, I can't hear you" have said that these are all 'isolated' examples. Rare instances, and so forth.

Well, yesterday, a series of reports in the UK released over the weekend, and commissioned by Lord Darzi, the former health minister, has examined the structure of the National Health Service, and revealed that the problems are systemic. They came to light only after a pursuit through Freedom of Information Laws. The Times reports:

They diagnose a blind pursuit of political and managerial targets as the root cause of a string of hospital scandals that have cost thousands of lives.

One report, based on the advice of almost 200 top managers and doctors, says hospitals ignored basic hygiene to cram in patients to meet waiting-time targets.

“Managers crowded in patients in order to meet waiting-time targets and, in the process, lost sight of the fundamental hygiene requirements for infection prevention,” the report stated.

One heading in the report says: “The patient doesn’t seem to be in the picture.” It adds: “We were struck by the virtual absence of mention of patients and families ... whether we were discussing aims and ambition for improvement, measurement of progress or any other topic relevant to quality.

These are not isolated incidents. These are not unfortunate accidents. Rather, they are the inevitable result when bureaucrats start dictating health policy. People strive to meet the expectations of government officials, not patients. Meeting wait-time targets becomes more important than hygiene and care. Patients become an inconvinient afterthought.

Hit Read More to continue reading (and watch a video clip on just this problem!)

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