The Taxpayers Protection Alliance stayed out of the general election because we don’t endorse candidates and focus on policy, not politics. We were, however, involved in a ballot initiative in Baltimore, Maryland. The ballot initiative establishes an independent Advisory Board for the Baltimore City Inspector General (IG). Currently, members of the Board are appointed by elected officials. For example, the City Council President has influence in the appointment of 4 of the 7 members of the current Board. City voters changed that on Tuesday making an already independent IG even more independent. The new Advisory Board will now be made up of 7 Baltimore City residents, 2 law school Deans (or their appointees), 1 person from the Maryland Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and 1 person chosen by the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants. This is a big win for Baltimore. The IG, Isabel Cumming and her staff, have done an outstanding job of hunting down waste, fraud, and abuse. This gives the even more opportunity to do their jobs. TPA was proud to work on this initiative and we hope to use Baltimore as a model.
Time to Get to Work
Americans across the country cast their votes to elect both a new Congress and state level officials. These newly elected officials have quite the task ahead of them to rein in reckless spending, tackle an overcomplicated tax system, combat inflation, and shrink the government’s footprint on society. This new Congress, state legislatures, and governors will have a lot of responsibility as they navigate a struggling economy and a government that has been expanding and making life more difficult for taxpayers and consumers. For the last two years, there has been sky-high spending and policies that have left Americans worse off than before. Individuals have put their faith in these leaders to enact policies that will lower inflation so they can once again put dinner on the table and fill their gas tanks up—stress free. TPA looks forward to holding elected officials across the country accountable, pointing out government waste, and protecting taxpayers and consumers across the country. We hope the (potentially) new House and Senate leadership sets the tone for fiscal responsibility in the 118th Congress.
Consumers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to fail the American public. From blocking access to life-saving medical treatments to being unable to address baby food formula shortages to ignoring the science and data on tobacco harm reduction. This agency has more power over the average American than should be comfortable for anyone. America is lagging behind the world and is facing a litany of problems caused by the FDA. This year, the baby food shortage was only felt by Americans. Other countries are actively promoting that adults use safer alternatives to cigarettes, yet, in the past two years, the FDA has only approved three e-cigarette products, as opposed to hundreds of combustible tobacco products. But, the newest Congress isn’t the only set of lawmakers that can address the ills borne by the FDA. Across the country newly established state legislatures are preparing for 2023 sessions. It is imperative that they understand how FDA stunts progress and technological advances, inadvertently harming the health of Americans due to their prohibitive requirements to bring new products, drugs and substances to market. It’s time for policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels to address the wrongs of what could be the worst agency of the federal government and a new legislative session is the perfect time to do so.”
Energy
Over the last year, energy prices have increased by nearly 20 percent. This can largely be attributed to the Biden administration and the 117th Congress’ war on domestic production and failure to enact permitting reform. These left the country ill-prepared for situations like the war in Ukraine. On day one, the Biden administration made clear its stance on domestic production by canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, which was on track to be completed in 2022 and begin operations in early 2023. The administration has also banned the issuing of new drilling leases on federal lands. Both moves hurt consumers and the long-term energy security of the United States. The most important priority for the new Congress and energy policy must be to tackle permitting reform. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)’s mandated Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) take an average of 4.5 years to complete and cost the government more than $1 billion annually. Further, the same NEPA regulations enacted to promote environmentalism now stand as a barrier to innovation, with 42 percent of projects bogged down by the NEPA process being related to clean energy.Sustainable energy security will be one of the most pressing issues over the coming decades and the 118th Congress has a unique opportunity to ensure lasting reform that ensures protections for consumers and the environment alike.”
Good Governance
TPA encourages the newly-elected 118th Congress to swiftly review and amend internal House and Senate rules to make Congress more transparent, effective, and accessible to taxpayers and consumers. These reforms include the way Congress uses taxpayer funds, ethical procedures, and witness testimony. For too long, internal Congressional procedures have hampered the legislature’s ability to resist politicization and have created a non-transparent environment in the halls of Congress. We encourage both freshman and veteran legislators to promote good governing principles. First, Congress must recognize that earmarks are a flawed practice with a long history of abuse. At a time when the national debt is more than $30 trillion, Congress should practice frugality and ensure that local projects are funded by tax revenue generated within that community or state. In a move devoid of common sense, Congress reinstated the practice of earmarking this past year. It is time to ban these corruptive special interest projects once again. Secondly, concrete action to ban congressional stock trading must be a priority. Over the previous two congresses, very little has been done to curtail the conflict of interest that arises when members are permitted to supplement their taxpayer-funded paycheck with gains from the stock market. Even if they are not on the committee of jurisdiction for a piece of legislation, taxpayers should have confidence that their elected officials are making decisions based on policy and not their own wallets. Thirdly, given the abundance of sensitive ethical issues posed to members of Congress, responsibility for internal oversight should be reorganized away from the respective House and Senate ethics committees, which have proven incapable of dutifully investigating and judging members’ conduct. Instead, the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) should be made statutory, given greater authority, and integrated to include the Senate in addition to the House. Finally, it is imperative that members receive and value the testimony of industry experts in true committee hearings. Congress should not be rushing bills straight to markup without properly vetting the proposals. This includes input from the covered industry about how the legislation would affect that industry. This once-standard practice has been diluted over the past decade to allow for committee members to use hearings as soundbite soapboxes rather than the true deliberation processes, they should be. Furthermore, the 118th Congress should emphasize transparency in lawmaking and refrain from covertly amending bills after they have been passed by the jurisdictional committee. If changes are to be made, the bill should begin the process again and receive a separate committee markup and expert testimony regarding new or removed provisions.”
Healthcare
TPA is hopeful Congress will act to implement those ideas and policy that will increase competition and choice to lower costs, limit regulatory burdens to increase access to care, and promote innovation that keeps America a global leader in medical advancements. Democrats sold out seniors’ healthcare in the “Inflation Reduction Act” with price controls which did little to address high costs and instead threatened to stifle innovation and delay lifesaving cures. Voters did not agree with more government control of healthcare on Tuesday. TPA urges the 118th Congress to listen to voters and put patients and free market principles first. America is a global leader in medical advancement thanks to American industry and investment. Government policy should embrace innovation and technology that is increasing both access and care options and not stand in the way of lifesaving innovation with price controls, punitive taxation, or burdensome regulation.
Spending
The first order of business for this new Congress ought to be tackling inflation and the best way to accomplish that is by reducing excessive spending. It’s time to regain focus on bringing the cost of living down for American families. There has been everything this past year from those looking to fund a second F-35 engine to passing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — both with price tags of billions of dollars. These are unsustainable policies and projects that leave Americans covering the tab for unnecessary spending. In addition, new leadership must take a taxpayer-focused approach to simplify the tax code to provide tax relief for millions of families across the country. TPA calls on these new leaders to cut the irresponsible spending of American taxpayer dollars, rein in government regulation and federal agency overreach, and put Americans first.
Taxes and Internal Revenue Service
The tax code is still too complicated, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been riddled with backlogs, cybersecurity issues, and privacy breaches for many years. The size and scope of the IRS should not be expanded. Taxpayers are still burdened with a complicated tax structure. The 118th Congress must finish the job of tax reform that was started in 2017 when tax reform was passed. Since Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act this past summer—and in turn gave $80 billion in funding to the IRS and added 87,000 new agents—taxpayers are more concerned about the IRS’s expanded powers. It makes no sense that Congress decided to give the agency more responsibility and offer additional funding. From leaked confidential tax documents of prominent individuals and disclosing donor lists to political opponents, to targeting the most vulnerable taxpayers, the IRS needs strict oversight and transparency. The IRS has already proven time and time again that it goes after those who do not have the means and resources to fight back. In fact, Humphreys County, Mississippi, (with an average income of $18,000 per resident) is the most audited county in the country.
Empower Tech Innovation
TPA urges the new members of Congress to preserve the integrity of the internet, with a focus on cybersecurity, data privacy, and a light touch regulatory approach. Incoming members and leaders of the 118th Congress have a unique opportunity to shape the online future of the United States and ensure the global internet continues to be built by American companies. Tech companies are innovating in ways previously unimaginable. It is vital that congressional leadership – as well as every representative and senator – do not make the government an obstacle to further innovations that will improve the quality of life for millions of Americans and potentially billions around the globe. Too many elected officials in the 117th Congress got drawn into premature and ill-considered proposals, from antitrust policy to constitutionally-questionable speech regulations, that would have stifled innovation and free expression had they passed. Needless red tape and restrictions in a digital environment threatens not only innovation and expression, but the cybersecurity of user data and national infrastructure. New and returning members of both chambers of Congress have a chance to turn a corner and focus on the priorities that will matter most to the American people. Instead of regulation, the 118th Congress can empower the free market to operate unencumbered to provide the technology of tomorrow.
Telecom – Close the Digital Divide
Given the vast amount of taxpayer dollars that Congress has allocated toward broadband deployment across the country through such programs as the American Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – to name but two of many – it is critical that federal agencies in charge of doling out the funds get this right. Congress should ensure that the money is targeted at truly unserved communities first and foremost, without prioritizing government entities and other nonprofits over private providers, and remain technologically neutral. It’s not the job of the government to displace the private sector. Congress should also work to extend the Federal Communications Commission’s spectrum auction authority, including passing legislation such as this Congress’s H.R. 7624, the Extending America’s Spectrum Auction Leadership Act of 2022. Federal data privacy and security legislation is also badly needed as states like California and international entities such as the European Union begin to fracture the internet with their own onerous regulations. TPA cautions Congress against sweeping one-size-fits-all policies regarding privacy regulation. The data collection practices of companies using current technology are modern iterations of common business practices that allow them to market to targeted consumers.
BLOGS:
Monday: Taxpayers Protection Alliance: New Congress Must Put Tackling Inflation Pain First
Monday: Commentary to the Reagan Udall Foundation Regarding the Operational Evaluation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products’ Programs
Wednesday: TPA Releases Policy Priorities for the 118th Congress
Thursday: USVI’s Delegate and WAPA Whitewash Failed Generator Project
MEDIA:
November 7, 2022: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about pensions for Baltimore City council members.
November 7, 2022: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about a ballot initiative to spend $300 million on bonds.
November 8, 2022: Dan Savickas joined ‘The Barrett Brief’ (New Orleans, La.) to discuss what the priorities of the 118th Congress should be.
November 8, 2022: Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “Stamp Designs Can’t Paper Over Postal Problems.”
November 9, 2022: The Washington Examiner ran TPA’s op-ed, “Biden is going after gig workers.”
November 9, 2022: Dan Savickas joined ‘The Barrett Brief’ (New Orleans, La.) to discuss the news of day.
November 9, 2022: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about term limits in Baltimore City.
November 9, 2022: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their stary, “Maryland voters approve recreational marijuana use, what now?”
November 10, 2022: The Prescott/eNews (Prescott, Ariz.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Stamp Designs Can’t Paper Over Postal Problems.”
November 10, 2022: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about what the 118th Congress and Maryland state legislature should prioritize.
November 10, 2022: I appeared on WBOB Radio (600 AM AND 101 FM Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about tech regulation and the agenda for the 118th Congress.
November 10, 2022: I joined One America News Network to talk about what the 118th Congress should prioritize.
Have a great weekend!
