I want to start out with some good news. Ross Marchand was promoted to Vice President of Policy this week. Ross has been with the Taxpayers Protection Alliance for three years and has done an outstanding job at TPA. This has been especially true over the past three months, as TPA has been navigating the policy landscape of COVID-19. His depth of knowledge on all of TPA’s issues is impressive and the guy is an op-ed writing machine. The only complaint I have is that he is a NY Giants fan. I never thought that as a devoted Eagles fan I would say nice words about a Giants fan, but here we are. And let’s face it, at least he is no admirer of “America’s Team” down in Dallas. Seriously, if you haven’t read any of his op-eds, you really should. Not only are his policy arguments on point, you’ll get to read a lot about his three-legged cat Hopper.
But wait: there’s even more good news. Economic data released today shows that the economy added an astounding 2.5 million jobs in May. Restaurants alone were responsible for more than 1 million new jobs last month as states continued to reopen. The unemployment rate for May was expected by forecasters to be around 20 percent, but actually fell to 13.3 percent from April’s 14.7 percent. Employees are working harder than ever as businesses open their doors. Average weekly hours logged by workers are the highest they’ve been in at least fifteen years. Let the good times roll!
Trump Drops the Hammer on the World Health Organization (WHO)
Well, it finally happened. Late last week, President Trump made it official by announcing the redirecting of all funding from the WHO to alternative public health bodies, a move that TPA has directly and repeatedly called for. With its inept mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic being only the latest in a long string of disasters and financial mismanagement by the organization, the WHO has completely failed in its mandate to protect public health. Redirecting funds to other public health bodies will ensure that funds go to help people in need and doctors on the frontlines of the pandemic, and not to bureaucrats travelling in first class. The WHO has chosen to repeatedly praise the Chinese Communist Party even as the regime covered up early COVID-19 cases. The WHO’s director-general praised China for “transparency” and “political leadership” at a time when government authorities were downplaying the threat and arresting doctors and journalists who were trying to raise the alarm. The evidence
is clear that the WHO was responsible for the severity of this outbreak and its international spread. Had they done their one job, virus transmission would have been limited, and countries would have had critical extra weeks to prepare.
Instead of having taxpayers contribute more than $400 million per year to fund the WHO’s epic ineptitude, the U.S. could cut out the middleman and redirect these resources toward groups such as Doctors Without Borders. This would almost immediately free up bloated administrative costs to provide for doctors and patients in need. The President has demonstrated true leadership in acting on this recommendation, saving millions of lives and taxpayer dollars in the process. In the midst of an international pandemic, it is vital that U.S. tax dollars are put to the best possible use to provide help to those who need it most. Fortunately, the U.S. will be redirecting funds away from an organization that prioritizes luxury travel over public health and providing it to groups who actually help people. This decision will undoubtedly save many, many lives and protect taxpayers in the process. Everyone, regardless of their politics, should support this farsighted decision.
House Highway Bill is a Wreck
On Wednesday, House Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unveiled a $494 billion surface transportation bill filled with copious amounts of waste and pet projects. The legislation would triple funding for Amtrak to $29 billion through 2025 and mandate that the Department of Transportation institute greenhouse gas reduction measures and set abatement goals for states. The bill provides $8.35 billion for states to comply with these regulations. In addition, the legislation includes $1.4 billion in “electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure grants” and $1 billion in “community climate innovation grants” through 2025.
This is the worst possible time for Congress to take up a staggering $500 billion bill for crony “green” subsidies and payouts to politically connected corporations. This year’s deficit is quickly approaching $4 trillion, with federal debt already amounting to more than $190,000 for each and every household in America. Despite this ballooning spending and the continued calamity from the Coronavirus pandemic, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is asking taxpayers to part ways with even more of their hard-earned dollars. Lawmakers need to look for ways to reduce spending, not drown taxpayers in red ink.
The Committee’s proposed $1.4 billion in EV spending is nothing more than blatant Robin Hood-in-reverse policies that benefit the few at the expense of the many. According to research by Dr. Wayne Winegarden of the Pacific Research Institute, roughly 80 percent of EV tax credits accrue to households making six-figures. These infrastructure grants would be no different, diverting precious dollars away from struggling, hard-working families at a time they can least afford it. The proposed tripling of funding to Amtrak over a five-year period is particularly perplexing, given that the passenger rail corporation is already woefully mismanaged. In the leadup to the pandemic, Amtrak was busy using $2 billion in hard-earned taxpayer dollars on shaving an hour off of a five-and-a-half-hour train route between Chicago and St. Louis. Now Congress is proposing a massive ramp-up in funding to the rail corporation, without any assurance that Amtrak won’t simply use these funds to pursue even more
wasteful and unnecessary boondoggles. Lawmakers should be holding Amtrak accountable, not doubling down on a failed subsidy scheme. It’s time to bring some transparency and fiscal accountability to transportation spending, instead of the sorry status-quo of handouts and goodies to the politically connected few.
Blogs:
Sunday: Debunking the WHO on World No Tobacco Day ([link removed])
Monday: How Cities Can Start to Keep the Peace ([link removed])
Tuesday: John Oliver Delivers Misinformation on the U.S. Postal Service ([link removed])
Wednesday: Watchdog Slams House Dems for $494 Billion Transportation Bill ([link removed])
Friday:
Media:
June 1, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about the pros and cons of Baltimore re-opening.
June 1, 2020: Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “States Pleading for Federal Bailout Are the Most Poorly Managed.”
June 1, 2020: The Epoch Times quoted TPA in their story, “Bipartisan House Group’s Call for Urgent Budget Reforms Gets Bipartisan Lashing From Critics.”
June 2, 2020: Townhall ran TPA’s op-ed, “Relief Legislation Should be Clean, Not 'Green’.”
June 2, 2020: RealClearPolicy ran TPA’s op-ed, “Pelosi's Plan to Help Those Who Don't Want to Pay Bills Instead of Those In Need.”
June 2, 2020: The Sun Sentinel (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “End qualified immunity for cops.”
June 3, 2020: Nonprofit Quarterly quoted TPA in their story, “Should Police Be Financially Liable in Misconduct Suits?”
June 3, 2020: The Interior Journal (Stanford, Ky.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “States pleading for federal bailout are the most poorly managed.”
June 4, 2020: WBFF (Fox, Baltimore) interviewed me about the weekly unemployment numbers.
June 4, 2020: I appeared on WBOB Radio (600 AM and 101 FM; Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about unemployment and the potential for a new fiscal relief package.
June 4, 2020: Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “Congress Can Provide Hand Up to Small Businesses Without Ballooning Budget.”
June 4, 2020: The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Report says 5G will create employment boon.”
June 5, 2020: Catalyst ran TPA’s op-ed, “SpaceX Is Saving Taxpayer Money.”
Have a great weekend, stay safe, and as always, thanks for your continued support.
Best,
David Williams
President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
1401 K Street, NW
Suite 502
Washington, D.C. xxxxxx
www.protectingtaxpayers.org ([link removed])
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