Cut Subsidies

The federal government subsidizes economic activities in different ways, including direct spending and tax cuts. Every year these subsidies cost taxpayers billions of dollars, yet the government often fails to monitor them for their effectiveness or necessity. ...More

Subsidies such as preferential tax treatment have been especially prone to lax oversight and underestimating the true cost to taxpayers. Loan guarantees, price guarantees, and disaster insurance are also examples of federal subsidies to private industries. Federal subsidies need to be accurately measured and routinely assessed to ensure that taxpayers receive a fair return on their investment. Profitable, well-established industries should not receive taxpayer subsidies in any form.

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All the latest content from TCS in Cut Subsidies
Our Take

Big Oil, Big Profits: Industry Tops $120 Billion in 2012

February 05, 2013

Big Oil, Big Profits: Industry Tops $120 Billion in 2012 As annual financial reports come in, it’s clear the oil and gas industry is looking to continue its decade long trend of being one of the... Read More

Our Take

Even More Options for Cutting Crop Insurance Costs

February 05, 2013

Even More Options for Cutting Crop Insurance Costs Defenders of agricultural subsidies at all costs are starting to feel the heat. Yesterday, professors from Ohio State University,... Read More

Event Summary

TCS Moderates Congressional Briefings on Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard

February 05, 2013

TCS Moderates Congressional Briefings on Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard             February 5, 2013 CONTACTS: Steve Ellis, 202-546-8500 ext... Read More

Our Take

Big Oil Boasts High Profits; Subsidies Continue

February 01, 2013

Big Oil Boasts High Profits; Subsidies Continue Oil and gas companies continue to boast substantial profits while reaping billions in taxpayer-backed subsidies. As of February 1st, four... Read More

Our Take

It’s Official: 2012 Drought Cost Taxpayers a Record $14 Billion

January 16, 2013

It’s Official: 2012 Drought Cost Taxpayers a Record $14 Billion This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed what taxpayers have feared for months. After tallying losses from last year’s... Read More

Our Take

Farm Bill Extension Better Than Trillion-Dollar Bill

January 03, 2013

Farm Bill Extension Better Than Trillion-Dollar Bill As we predicted, all the hype about the “dairy cliff” hitting consumers with sky-high milk prices was nothing but a hoax.... Read More

More in-depth material from TCS in Cut Subsidies
Fact Sheets

Taxpayer Risks with the Loan Guarantee Program

April 07, 2011 > Updated: August 28, 2012

Taxpayer Risks with the Loan Guarantee Program The Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee program carries extremely high taxpayer risk, potentially jeopardizing billions of taxpayer dollars if energy project loans default.... Read More

Fact Sheets

Crop Insurance Administrative Policy Changes

January 30, 2013

Several administrative changes could be implemented to reduce taxpayer costs and limit the unintended consequences of federal crop insurance. ... Read More

Policy Briefs

Transportation Tax Provisions within Fiscal Cliff Deal

January 03, 2013

Transportation Tax Provisions within Fiscal Cliff Deal The final agreement signed by the president to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff” contains several items related to transportation that are... Read More

Policy Briefs

Energy Tax Breaks Catch Ride on Fiscal Cliff Train

January 03, 2013

Energy Tax Breaks Catch Ride on Fiscal Cliff Train At the 11th hour lawmakers and the White House agreed to a deal on the fiscal cliff. While the deal was crafted to address urgent tax hikes... Read More

TCS appearances in the media in Cut Subsidies

State Of The Union: Obama Renews Call For Elimination Of Some Corporate Tax Loopholes

February 13, 2013 | Huffington Post

Solving the never-ending budget crisis and reducing the deficit will require corporate tax reform, Obama said. Obama called for tax reform... Read More

Hill Briefing Shreds Renewable Fuel Standard

February 11, 2013 | GlobalWarming.com

This morning I attended a briefing on “The Renewable Fuel Standard: Pitfalls, Challenges, and the Need for Congressional Action in 2013.”... Read More

USEC under Obama 2.0 - in the race for state guarantees

February 11, 2013 | AtomInfo.ru

(Translated from original text) Changes in the top echelons of the U.S. government related to the beginning of the second term of... Read More

NMMA makes case to Congress on fuel standard

February 11, 2013 | Trade Only Today Magazine

The National Marine Manufacturers Association made its case with several other groups Tuesday to federal lawmakers on the negative impact of... Read More

Analyst warns of RFS threat to US poultry industry

February 07, 2013 | Global Meat News

A US analyst has warned that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is causing the cost of chicken and turkey to rocket, leaving many producers... Read More

Weekly Wastebasket

Our weekly reality-check for federal spending. View All

February 08, 2013

Time for a Farm Bill Redo

While much of Washington is bracing for across-the-board cuts, the Agriculture Committees are looking to... Read More