The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) was a landmark piece of tax legislation that lowered taxes for individuals and corporations, increased investments, and encouraged economic growth. TPA encourages Congress to act now to extend key provisions in the TCJA and capitalize on a new opportunity to continue to simplify the tax code and benefit taxpayers and businesses. TPA launched the Countdown to Expiring Tax Cuts web page to serve as a resources for citizens and government officials to show the importance of extending TCJA.

Profile in Courage: Former Senator Pat Toomey

In today’s political climate, it’s easy to vote based on the letter next to someone’s name rather than have original ideas. Fortunately, some lawmakers are willing to think critically about which ideas would help taxpayers and consumers deal with a swelling tsunami of costs. Former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) has thought deeply and critically about a wide array of issues ranging from tax reform to tariffs to postal policy. His fresh perspective made Capitol Hill a better place, and he continues to be a force for good even in his political retirement. For helping Americans keep a growing federal bureaucracy off their backs, Sen. Toomey is most definitely a Profile in Courage. Toomey was born in Providence, Rhode Island to a working-class family. His father was a union worker who laid cable, while his mother was a parish secretary, giving him an early appreciation for hard work and perseverance. After graduating from Harvard University in 1984, Toomey worked in the financial services industry before co-founding a chain of restaurants and nightclubs in the Allentown, Pennsylvania, area with his brothers. This was an exceedingly tough time to own a small business in Pennsylvania. Then-Governor Bob Casey Sr. squandered budget surpluses and brought what he liked to call an “activist government” to the Keystone State. This tax-and-spend philosophy made crystal clear to Toomey the value of two words — fiscal discipline. He seized the moment and jumped into politics, handily defeating state Senator Roy Afflerbach to become a U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district. While on the campaign trail, Toomey spoke passionately about a promising idea, the “flat tax.” Of course, he had many detractors because the idea upended the status quo. Toomey argued that the “flat tax” — or a single income tax rate for all earners — would greatly simplify the U.S. tax code while still ensuring the top earners paid far more than middle and bottom earners. While Pennsylvania voters responded enthusiastically to this message, it largely fell on deaf ears in Washington, D.C. Toomey faced significant pressure from his Republican colleagues to not rock the boat too much and go along with high (albeit lowered) tax rates, earmarks, and bailouts. Things came to a head when Bethlehem, Pennsylvania mayor Don Cunningham asked Rep. Toomey to secure taxpayer dollars to revitalize the town as Bethlehem Steel was going bankrupt. Toomey bravely replied, “Look, that runs counter to what I believe in. This would be a spending project, and we'd have to bring money back from the federal government to open this up, and I don't do that.” 
 
The moment wasn’t right for Toomey to bring reform in Washington, D.C., and he left Congress in 2005. Fast forward five years, and the national mood had changed considerably. The U.S. government was on a misguided mission to bail out big banks while Americans faced high taxes, out-of-control regulation, and soaring unemployment. Toomey took a shot at a Senate seat, ousting unpopular Republican incumbent Arlen Specter (who had voted for bailouts). Sen. Toomey hit the ground running, castigating then-President Obama for historically-high spending and holding firm against irresponsible debt ceiling proposals. During the first Trump administration, he led the charge for tax reform and made sure that businesses and healthcare consumers also felt relief. He also fought hard for getting rid of earmarks.  Sen. Toomey also rightly slammed tariffs as taxes by any other name. In 2019, the lawmaker correctly claimed that tariffs on Mexico, “would directly diminish the value of the tax reform that we did by raising taxes on consumers. It would disrupt supply chains for American companies, thereby making them less competitive.” The evidence was on Sen. Toomey’s side. According to a 2019 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, President Trump’s tariffs imposed during his first term cost households more than $400 per year on average. Unsurprisingly, President Trump’s current round of tariffs could easily cost families triple that figure. 
 
One of his most courageous fights was for reforming the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), which has lost more than $100 billion over the past fifteen years. When the Biden administration and lawmakers proposed bailing out the USPS, Sen. Toomey could have simply registered a “no” vote with his Republican colleagues. Instead, he took the extra step of introducing an amendment clarifying that the bankrupt and irresponsible agency should not provide banking services. As strange as it sounds, lawmakers such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) believe that the USPS is somehow capable of managing Americans’ finances even when it cannot manage its own. While the USPS bailout went through and the agency continues to unsuccessfully pilot banking services, Sen. Toomey deserves praise for fighting to protect taxpayers. Unlike many in Congress, Toomey decided to bow out gracefully from public service. Even though Toomey’s time in Congress is over, he continues to advocate for taxpayers and consumers. He has continued to speak out against costly tariffs, even when it’s his own party pushing for these import taxes. Toomey can be counted on to do the right thing even when his stance isn’t popular or likely to win the day. For standing firm on what he believes in, Pat Toomey is a Profile in Courage. 
 
 
Amid Postal Chaos, Reform Direly Needed
 
It’s recently been a while ride at the USPS. Shortly after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he will soon step down, reports emerged that President Donald Trump is mulling firing the agency’s governing board and folding the USPS into the Commerce Department. Whether this is true, the USPS’ next leader — or supervising agency — has their work cut out for them as they try to reverse years of financial losses and frayed trust with consumers. America’s mail carrier needs a bold new vision to turn things around.  When new USPS leadership emerges, their first big decision will be whether to continue DeJoy’s Delivering for America (DFA) plan. Under this multi-year reform strategy, the agency has started to consolidate mail processing, slow down mail service, repeatedly raise prices, phase out (some) air transportation, and double down on its career workforce.
 
This has been a mixed bag — to put things generously. The Postal Regulatory Commission recently analyzed the DFA in-depth, and found that the USPS “relies on overly optimistic and unsubstantiated financial projections for cost savings that are not likely to improve the financial health of the Postal Service.” Moreover, the DFA “depends on defective modeling and does not appear to be ready for implementation.” Price hikes are likely turning away more consumers than anticipated, leading to middling revenue. This revenue is stretched thin against a tsunami of compensation and benefit costs. The agency insists on prioritizing a career workforce even though career workers cost the agency about $8 more per hour than their non-career counterparts. Even if new postal leadership wants to keep consolidating facilities and moving away from costly air deliveries, it will need to halt price hikes and career hires. DeJoy’s successor should restore trust with consumers by committing to limit postage increases to the rate of inflation. Additionally, the new leader should announce a dynamic hiring strategy focused on inexpensive non-career hires that could work seasonally or part-time depending on the USPS’ shifting needs.  
 
For even greater savings, the agency must also think outside the envelope. Currently, the USPS delivers six days a week (Monday through Saturday), and thanks to the expansion of its package business, often on Sundays too. However, postal agencies in other countries are moving away from this costly model. Recently, Royal Mail in the United Kingdom announced that Saturday deliveries would no longer be available for non-urgent letters.  The USPS has considered this idea before. Agency leadership suggested a five-day delivery plan (with some wiggle room for Saturday package deliveries) in its Five-Year Business Plan in 2013 and concluded that it would save $1.9 billion per year. That’s $2.6 billion after adjusting for inflation, which is about a third of the average USPS annual loss over the past couple of years. Consumers certainly seemed to be on board. In 2015, the inspector general surveyed consumers on whether six days of delivery was worth it at various stamp price points. The watchdog found that a large majority of consumers favored five-day delivery at any price point over 50 cents. Now that the price of a first-class stamp is 73 cents and rapidly rising, it’s reasonable to think consumers prefer five days of delivery over six. However, postal leadership would likely need Congress’ help to implement this idea because of the restrictive language of the 2022 Postal Service Reform Act.  There’s no shortage of options to lower costs at the USPS. New postal management — no matter who it is — can save taxpayers and consumers billions of dollars with a bold strategy to get the agency back into the black.  
 
 
Blogs:
 

Monday: Willmar Pauses Plans to Build Taxpayer-Funded Broadband Network

Tuesday: Memo to DOGE: Postal Reform can Save Taxpayers $7 Billion Annually

Wednesday: February Federal Bill of the Month – S. 713/H.R. 1579 – Broadband Buildout Accountability Act

Thursday: Extending Tax Cut Provisions is Key for Manufacturers

Friday: Profile in Courage: Former Senator Pat Toomey

 
 
Media:
    
February 20, 2025: The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Md.) quoted me in their article, "Moore touts no property tax hikes, but critics note rising fees."
 
February 20, 2025: USSA News included TPA's tweet about Sen. Rand Paul questioning Secretary of Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer in their blog, "Trump Labor Dept. nominee backtracks on past support for pro-union bill."
 
February 21, 2025: The Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.) ran TPA’s op-ed, "Nominee gives no signs he is equipped for FAA."
 
February 21, 2025: The Herald (New Britain, Conn.) ran TPA’s op-ed, "Nominee gives no signs he is equipped for FAA."
 
February 21, 2025: The Bristol Press (Bristol, Conn.) ran TPA’s op-ed, "Nominee gives no signs he is equipped for FAA."
 
February 21, 2025: American Family News quoted TPA in their article, "Watchdog group: It's not about the soda, it's about SNAP eligibility."
 
February 23, 2025: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me for their piece on school funding in Maryland.
 
February 23, 2025: The American Spectator ran TPA's op-ed, "Extending Tax Cut Provisions is Key for Manufacturers."
 
February 24, 2025: Fierce Healthcare quoted TPA in their article, "Trump admin defends IRA drug price negotiation program in Novartis lawsuit."
 
February 24, 2025: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me for their segment on DOGE's concept of giving a payout of savings to American households.
 
February 24, 2025: WVLK-AM (ABC News Radio, Lexington, Ky.) interviewed Dan Savikas on Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
 
February 24, 2025: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, MD) quoted TPA in their article, "Combatting government waste, critics complain Maryland falls short."
 
February 24, 2025: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, MD) quoted TPA in their segment on the need for Maryland's state government to look at waste.
 
February 25, 2025: RealClearMarkets ran TPA's op-ed, "Taking Away Rights Won't Enhance Child Safety."
 
February 25, 2025: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) quoted me in their segment on the need to look into government waste in Maryland.
 
February 25, 2025: The Daily Signal mentioned TPA in their article, "EXCLUSIVE: Conservative Groups Urge Congress to ‘Avoid Fake Spending Cut Gimmicks’."
 
February 25, 2025: WJLA ABC7 (Washington, DC) interviewed Dan Savikas for their segment on DOGE and taxpayer waste.
 
February 25, 2025: WJLA ABC7 (Arlington, VA) quoted TPA in their article, "One USAID contractor turns to retail work amid job cuts and uncertain future."
 
February 25, 2025: Issues & Insights ran TPA's op-ed, "Amid Postal Chaos, Reform Direly Needed." 
 
February 26, 2025: WJLA ABC7 (Washington, DC) quoted TPA in their segment on DOGE's firing of federal workers. 
 
February 26, 2025: Florida Daily quoted TPA in their article, "Trump EPA Head Says Biden Sent Billions In Slush Funds to Green Energy Groups."
 
February 26, 2025: WJLA ABC7 (Washington, DC) quoted TPA in their segment about DOGE's methods of eliminating government waste.
 
February 26, 2025:  InsideSources ran TPA's op-ed, "Repeal, Replace or Reform BEAD."
 
February 27, 2025: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about the concept of states setting up their own DOGE offices to eliminate government waste.

Have a great weekend!



Best,

David Williams
President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
1101 14th Street, NW
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. xxxxxx