When the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) was formed 10 years ago, I knew that at some point TPA was going to have to address the intersection of taxpayer and consumer issues and how slow and unresponsive government hurts consumer choice and freedom. The first consumer issue that TPA worked on was duplicative catfish inspection. TPA expanded from there talking about Food and Drug Administration reform to using sound science for products. Now, after 10 years, TPA is launching our Consumer Center. The areas that we will be addressing are Antitrust, Harm Reduction, Household Products, Innovation, and Privacy. We are excited to launch this new initiative and please let us know what you think of the new Center.
Profile in Courage – Snoop Dogg
I bet you never thought you would read about Snoop Dogg in TPA’s Weekly Update. The famed rapper got a rocky start in life by racking up criminal convictions and being accused of taking part in the gang violence that gripped America in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But, he didn’t let his troubled past deter him from artistic breakthroughs and commercial success. Now, 28 years after his first studio album, Snoop Dogg remains beloved by his millions of fans and continues to strive to make the world a better place. Many may not be aware of his work outside of music, but his efforts in criminal justice reform initiatives have led to a renewed focus on rehabilitation instead of punishment, prompting policymakers to think critically about the failed status-quo. For inspiring generations of fans, and now making a difference in countless lives with criminal justice reform, Snoop Dogg is a Profile in Courage. From an early age, it was clear that Snoop Dogg was a skilled rapper. “When I rapped in the hallways at school I would draw such a big crowd that the principal would think there was a fight going on. It made me begin to realize that I had a gift. I could tell that my raps interested people and that made me interested in myself,” he explained. Unfortunately, though, the young musician had a difficult time staying on the right side of the law. At the age of 19, Snoop Dogg was convicted for drug possession. This would be one of many subsequent arrests, and this is when he became well acquainted with the criminal justice system. In 1993, he was arrested on the suspicion that he participated in a gangland shooting, though he was later cleared of wrongdoing.
Despite this legal tumult, Snoop Dogg managed to make a name for himself in the music world. His collaboration with Dr. Dre in the early 1990s catapulted the young rapper to fame and was critical to the success of his first studio album Doggystyle (released in 1993). His long-held fascination with marijuana coupled with his numerous arrests has led to the artist getting involved in criminal justice reform. He hasn’t been afraid to embrace reform efforts even when clemencies and policy changes are initiated by politicians he doesn’t much care for. Snoop Dogg’s latest partnership with billionaire businessman (and boogeyman of the left) Charles Koch speaks to his commitment to changing the criminal justice system for the better. It was announced earlier this month that Koch, Snoop Dogg, and criminal justice reform crusader Weldon Angelos formed a new coalition dedicated to the rolling back of draconian drug prohibition policies. The famed rapper could have “played it safe” by only working with other celebrities and left-of-center politicians on the issue. But Snoop Dogg and Angelos rightly believe that reform can only become a reality with support from multiple political parties.
By forming this unlikely alliance to address criminal justice reform, there is an opportunity for taxpayers to save money. But, more importantly, criminal justice reform will help people by breaking the status quo of over incarceration. It’ll be a long struggle for change, but Snoop Dogg and likeminded crusaders will not give up until the law becomes more just. And for fighting the good fight even when the going gets tough, Snoop Dogg is the OG of criminal justice reform and absolutely a Profile in Courage.
World IP Day – More Important than you think
April 26 was World Intellectual Property (IP) Day. I know that many of you may not have heard of this day, but this past year has shown that IP protections have never been more critical. Thanks to America’s stalwart record in defending patent holders, drug manufacturers and testing companies have marshaled maximum resources to kick the deadly COVID virus to the curb. But, we must not let down our guard; proposals to undermine IP rights are unfortunately a dime a dozen. World IP Day 2020 came at a very bleak time for the country and the world. Last April, nations, states, and localities across the world had locked down with little prospect of reopening anytime soon. Even the most optimistic analysts projected that it would be a year and a half before a vaccine could be made available to the public to curb the coronavirus. As these grim predictions were being made, researchers were tirelessly tinkering and testing mRNA vaccines to see how they would interact with humans and respond to an increasingly unpredictable virus.
We now know that these efforts were not in vain, and the first shots found their way into millions of arms by the end of 2020. As of the end of April 2021, more than half of U.S. adults (and about 80 percent of seniors) have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. But this medical marvel simply would not have happened were it not for robust IP protections. As legal scholar and former United States Patent and Trademark Office official Andrei Lancu notes, the drug and vaccine rollout effort “depends on $100 billion in annual private-sector investment, on top of billions in taxpayer money. Kill the patents taken out on these advances and you kill the incentive to invest.” Unfortunately, some pundits and politicians are pushing to eliminate IP protections for these lifesaving products. Calls have grown louder for a compulsory licensing regime which would allow countries to ignore patent protections and greenlight the production of knockoff vaccines without the permission of originating companies such as Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. But there is little to back up assertions by IP critics that patent protections are slowing the global rollout of vaccines. In fact, companies like Novartis and Sanofi are teaming up with rivals such as Pfizer/BioNTech to ensure that competition doesn’t get in the way of joint production. And, vaccine manufacturers have opted to share proprietary information rather than jealously guard their IP. But these ventures could quickly come to an end if companies use the long arm of the government to insist on wantonly appropriating vaccine patents instead of working with innovators to bring the pandemic to an end.
The breakneck pace of vaccine development need not end once the pandemic ends. Next-generation technologies can conquer various cancers and fight deadly diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but only with the right incentives in place. Future World IP Days could be a testament to this success, or a melancholy memorial to innovations long past. It’s time to reiterate our commitment to IP protections and turbocharge innovation and growth for decades to come.
BLOGS:
Monday: Tobacco & Vaping 101: 50 State Analysis
Tuesday: Biden Seeks to End the Costly War In Afghanistan
Wednesday: World IP Day Celebrates Progress Against Current and Future Pandemics
Thursday: Biden’s Proposal for Higher Spending and Higher Taxes Threatens a Full Economic Recovery
Friday: Profile in Courage: Snoop Dogg
Media:
April 22, 2021: The Greeneville Sun (Greeneville, Tenn. ) ran TPA’s op-ed, “This World IP Day, celebrate progress against current and future pandemics.”
April 22, 2021: The Rogersville Review (Rogersville, Tenn. ) ran TPA’s op-ed, “This World IP Day, celebrate progress against current and future pandemics.”
April 22, 2021: The Douglas Budget (Douglas, Wy. ) ran TPA’s op-ed, “This World IP Day, celebrate progress against current and future pandemics.”
April 22, 2021: Fox 41 (Yakima, Wash. ) ran TPA’s op-ed, “This World IP Day, celebrate progress against current and future pandemics.”
April 22, 2021: The Hendersonville Standard (Hendersonville, Tenn.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “This World IP Day, celebrate progress against current and future pandemics.”
April 22, 2021: The Iosco County News Herald (East Tawas, Mich.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “This World IP Day, celebrate progress against current and future pandemics.”
April 23, 2021: KLBJ 590 AM (Auston, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WTAQ 1360 AM (Green Bay, Wisc.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WBAP 820 AM (Dallas, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WHBL 1330 AM (Green Bay, Wisc.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WGMD 92.7 FM (Salisbury, Md.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WGDJ 1300 AM (Albany, N.Y.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WHKT 1650 AM (Norfolk, Va.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: KKOH 780 AM (Reno, Nev.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WHAM 1180 AM (Rochester, N.Y.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WABC 770 AM (New York, N.Y.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: Supertalk 99.7 FM (Nashville, Tenn.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WBEN 903 AM (Buffalo, N.Y.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: KTRH-740 AM (Houston, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WJR 760 AM (Detroit, Mi.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WLS 890 AM (Chicago, Il.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WJAS 1320 AM (Pittsburgh, Pa.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: KCOL 600 AM (Denver, Col.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WBT 110 AM (Charlotte, N.C.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: Newstalk 570 AM (Syracuse, N.Y.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WNIS 790 AM (Norfolk, Va.) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 23, 2021: WTVN 610 AM (Columbus, Ohio) quoted TPA in their story about President Biden’s infrastructure plan and tax increases
April 26, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about excess property in Baltimore, Md.
April 26, 2021: I appeared on the One America News Network to talk about Biden’s plan to raise the Capital Gains tax.
April 27, 2021: The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Biden seeks to end the costly war in Afghanistan.”
April 27, 2021: I appeared on KXEL-1540 AM (Waterloo, Iowa) to talk about Biden’s plan to raise the Capital Gains tax.
April 27, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their story, “Councilman Stokes explores BCPS financial audit while experts call for funding cuts.”
April 28, 2021: I appeared on 55KRC Radio (Cincinnati, Ohio) to talk about
April 28, 2021: I appeared on the Conservative Commandos radio show to talk about Biden’s plan to raise the Capital Gains tax.
April 28, 2021: KTXS ABC12 (Abilene, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KBOI CBS2 (Boise, Idaho), Texas) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WSET ABC13 (Roanoke, Va.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KFOX Fox14 (El Paso, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WJAC NBC6 (Johnstown-Altoona, Pa.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WCTI ABC12 (Greenville, N.C.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KTXELP (San Antonio, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WPEC CBS12 (West Palm beach, Fla.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KHQA CBS/NBC7 (Quincy, Ill.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KFXA Fox28 (Iowa City, Iowa) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KPTM Fox42 (Omaha, Neb.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KMPH Fox26 (Fresno, Ca.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WLUK Fox11 (Green Bay, Wisc.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WCCU Fox 45 (Champaign, Ill.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KBFX Fox58 (Bakersfield, Calif.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WFXL Fox31 (Albany, Ga.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WGXA Fox24 (Macon, Ga.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KAEF ABC23 (Eureka, Calif.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WWMT CBS3 (Grand Rapids, Mi.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WCYB NBC5 (Tri-Cities, Tenn.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KFXA Fox28 (Iowa City, Iowa) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KPTH Fox44 (Sioux City, Iowa) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WJLA ABC7 (Washington, D.C.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: The CW Baltimore (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WPXL (Albany, Ga.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WRGT Fox45 (Dayton, Ohio) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: The CW Columbus (Columbus, Ohio) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WXLV ABC45 (Greensboro, N.C.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WSJV ABC28 (South Bend, Ind.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: KBVU Fox28 (Eureka, Calif.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WPGH Fox53 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 28, 2021: WEMT Fox30 (Tri-Cities, Tenn.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: KATV ABC7 (Little Rock, Ark.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: KTVL CBS10 (Tulsa, Okla.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: KVII ABC7 (Amarillo, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: WEYI NBC25 (Flint, Mich.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: KEYE CBS34 (Abilene, Texas) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: WCOS ABC9 (Greenville, S.C.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: WSMH Fox66 (Flint, Mich.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: WVHP Fox8 (Rochester, N.Y.) quoted TPA in their story about universal income.
April 29, 2021: VP of Policy Patrick Hedger appeared on The Charlie James Show on 106.3 FM WORD (Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.) to discuss Biden’s joint address to Congress.
April 29, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about President’s Biden’s speech to Congress.
April 29, 2021: VP of Policy Patrick Hedger appeared on Houston Afternoon Drive on 740 AM KTRH (Houston) to discuss Biden’s joint address to Congress.
April 29, 2021: I appeared on WBOB 600 AM (Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about President Biden’s speech to Congress.
April 29, 2021: VP of Policy Patrick Hedger appeared on The Michael Berry Show (nationwide radio) to discuss JD Vance’s comments on big tech and the First Amendment.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
David Williams
President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
1401 K Street, NW
Suite 502
Washington, D.C. xxxxxx
www.protectingtaxpayers.org
