Over the last year, TPA has been sounding the alarm on the cybersecurity and national security risks that various antitrust proposals targeting the tech sector would create. In the spring, we ran a series of ads with Lt. General Keith Kellogg (ret.), a senior Trump administration national security official, warning about the political attacks on our tech sector. This week, 13 other senior Trump administration officials joined the chorus. Former national security advisor Robert O’Brien, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, former Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, among other former Trump administration officials sent a letter to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The letter states that two bills currently being considered in Congress – the American Innovation and Choice Online (AICO) Act and the Open App Markets Act (OAMA) – would put America at a disadvantage compared to some of its foreign adversaries. You can read the letter and learn more here.
 
Bureaucratic Broadband

This probably won’t come as a surprise to followers of TPA, but a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report says that federal broadband funding is a jumbled mess and it’s unclear if the Biden White House plans to do anything about it. GAO says in the report that a better national strategy is needed to guide federal efforts to help close the digital divide.

How fragmented is the current effort? The federal auditor found that 15 agencies currently administer more than 100 different broadband funding programs. Some of those programs primarily focus on broadband deployment while other programs provide funding that can be used for multiple purposes, including offering internet devices, making service more affordable and building digital skills. The GAO report indicates that the billions of taxpayer dollars already spent on broadband haven’t been very effective. “Despite numerous programs and federal investment [of] $44 billion from 2015 through 2020, millions of Americans still lack broadband, and communities with limited resources may be most affected by fragmentation.”

In other words, many unserved areas remain without service thanks to the federal bureaucracy. Lawmakers ought to keep this report in mind before they consider throwing money at not just broadband, but any other policy issue. When it comes to government, less is usually more.
 
Creeping Feeling at SEC
 
A consistent theme behind TPA’s work is exposing where government agencies are getting too big for their britches and neglecting their core duties. From the IRS to the FDA to the FTC, TPA has been pushing back on efforts to turn agencies into regulatory Swiss Army knives (That comparison is perhaps unfair to Swiss Army knives, which are at least useful). This week, TPA announced the release of SEC Mission Creep, a website dedicated to highlighting the overreach of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) beyond its congressional mandate with its proposed climate disclosure rule. 
 
In March of 2022, the SEC announced a proposed rulemaking, requiring companies to disclose information to investors about climate-related risks, including estimates of a company’s direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, which are near impossible to track. This rule deviates from the SEC’s mandate of protecting investors and will pose increased regulatory and compliance costs for companies. To further discuss these effects, TPA submitted a letter to the SEC’s comment period, explaining the complications the proposal will pose on the average American and impact on the U.S. economy. The letter highlights how this rule will not help the fight against climate change and instead create a substantially increased amount of red tape for American businesses. The proposed rule is a perfect example of the SEC overstepping its authority and will ultimately have a chilling effect on energy investments at a time when businesses are hurting significantly post-pandemic and due to the supply chain crisis.
 
BLOGS:
 
Monday: TPAF App Security Project Announces Billboard Campaign to Highlight Cybersecurity Concerns
 
Tuesday: TPA’s Bill of the Month: Six Penny Plan
 
Wednesday: Former National Security Officials Raise Red Flags on Tech Proposals
 
Thursday: Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) Unveils New Website: SEC Mission Creep

Friday: Antitrust Bill a Threat to Consumers’ Security and Paychecks

 
MEDIA:
 
June 12, 2022: Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “Not Much Hope for New Tobacco Director.”
 
June 13, 2022: Prescott E-News (Prescott, AZ) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Not Much Hope for New Tobacco Director.”
 
June 14, 2022: Filter Mag ran TPA’s op-ed, “Authorizing Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes Is Short-Sighted.”
 
June 14, 2022: The Telegraph (Nashua, NH) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Not much hope for new tobacco director.”
 
June 15, 2022: I joined Fox 45 WBFF (Baltimore, Md.) to discuss Nick Mosby’s appeal of Baltimore Ethics Board ruling.
 
June 15, 2022: Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “Federal Auditor Says Bureaucracy Is Harming Efforts To Close Digital Divide.”
 
June 15, 2022: The National Desk interviewed me and quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: CBS21 (Harrisburg, PA) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KOMO News (Seattle, WA) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15,  2022: Fox11 (Green bay, WI) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KVII ABC 7 (Amarillo, TX) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KEPR (Pasco, WA) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Flipboard quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 

June 15, 2022: KATV (Little Rock, AR) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: CBS13 KRCG TV (New Bloomfield, MO) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022:  CBS2 Idaho (Boise, ID) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Fox45 Baltimore (Baltimore, MD) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2 022: ABC7 WJLA (Washington, D.C.) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Up North Live  ABC (Traverse City, MI.) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Fox25 (Oklahoma City, OK) quoted me in their story,  “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022:  CBS2 KUTV (Salt Lake City, UT) quoted me in their story,  “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Dayton 24/7 NOW (Dayton, OH) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: CBS4 News (El Paso, TX) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: KTVL CBS10 (Medford, OR) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Fox11 (Reno, NV) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KRNV (Reno, NV) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: KTVO (Kirksville, MO) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: Fox Illinois (Springfield, IL) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: CBS2 Iowa News Now (Cedar Rapids, IA) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: MyNBC15 (Mobile, AL) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: ABC4 (Mt. Pleasant, SC) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: Local12 (Cincinnati, OH) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: CBS Austin (Austin, TX) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.” 
 
June 15, 2022: ABC13 WSET (Lynchburg, VA) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Fox23 Maine (Portland, ME) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: NBC Montana (Missoula, MT) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: WCTI ABC12 (New Bern, NC) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: WZTV Fox17 (Nashville, TN) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KTXS ABC12 (Abilene, TX) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: ABC33/40 (Birmingham, AL) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: Fox 29 (San Antonio, TX) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KRCR (Redding, CA) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: ABC30 KNDL (St. Louis, MO) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KCBY (North Bend, OR) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”

June 15, 2022: KFDM CBS6 (Beaumont TX) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KLEW (Lewiston, ID) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KATU ABC2  (Portland, OR) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: WCYB NBC5 (Blountville, TN) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: WTOV 9 (Steubenville, OH) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: KPIC CBS4 (Roseburg, OR) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: WJAC TV (Johnstown, PA) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 15, 2022: ABC13 WLOS (Asheville, NC) quoted me in their story, “Retail spending down as surging inflation strikes shoppers.”
 
June 16, 2022: TPA was mentioned in Inside Sources piece titled, “SEC Wants to Force Capital Markets to Go Green.”
 
June 16, 2022: Fox 45 WBFF interviewed me about the US sending aid to Ukraine.
 
June 17, 2022: Patrick Hedger joined the ‘Tennessee Star Report’ on 1510 WLAC with Michael Patrick Leahy to discuss the IRS’ backlogs and unprocessed tax returns.