Federal dollars continue to flow to legacy programs because of bureaucratic inertia, and the absence of any regular, ongoing assessment of actual need. Funding federal investments based on merit is a critical component of any deficit-reduction plan and could save taxpayers billions. Congress and federal agencies have a responsibility to taxpayers to invest federal resources in the most effective and efficient way possible.
Explore the Prioritize Investments Program-
Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax
Use Common Sense to Rappel the Fiscal Cliff
Read our letter to President Obama, Speaker Boehner, and Leader Reid: We write to offer specific suggestions for how to move forward...

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Policy Briefs | Transportation & Infrastructure
California HSR: Taxpayers Still on the Hook
The $3.6 billion stake provided by the Federal Railroad Administration could translate to years of obligation...

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Our Take | Prioritize Investments
TCS Opposes Transportation Bill
Congress must face head on the challenge of appropriately funding the nation’s transportation program....

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Budget & Tax
Bridge to Nowhere
Rep Don Young (R-AK) was awarded the Golden Fleece Award by Taxpayers for Common Sense for trying to sell America's taxpayers a $315 million "bridge to nowhere" in rural Alaska...

Federal spending decisions should be based on project merit, rather than on who wields the most political muscle or influence. But federal dollars are going to “sweetheart projects” of influential lawmakers, instead of repairing or replacing the bridges or weapons systems most in need of attention. ...More
Step Outside the MOX
February 06, 2013
The Project On Government Oversight and Taxpayers for Common Sense are encouraged by reports of waning support for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MOX) at the Savannah River Site...
Alexander to testify before Government Reform Committee today
February 01, 2013
Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander will be testifying before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Tuesday,...
Lactose Intolerance: There is No Dairy Cliff
December 28, 2012
Don’t believe the hype. There is no milk cliff. Yes, after the new year, permanent farm law from 1949 (and 1938) will take effect, but the...
Defense Authorization Bill: More Money, Less Savings
December 21, 2012
The Senate today passed the final version of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which, though late, will still beat the...
TCS Cited in Bipartisan Congressional Letter on Defense Savings
December 10, 2012
A group of eleven Democratic and eleven Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Obama and...
Use Common Sense to Rappel the Fiscal Cliff
December 05, 2012
Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a “Common Sense Proposal to Rappel the Fiscal Cliff” to the President and congressional leadership....
Sliding Past Sequestration: $2 Trillion in Common Sense Cuts to Avoid the Fiscal Cliff
October 01, 2012
In the summer of 2011, Congress sent the President a bill that acknowledged failure. Instead of swallowing hard and coming up with trillions...
Congress Relies on Billions from Treasury in Transportation Reauthorization
June 27, 2012
A quick note: This analysis is based upon best available data at the time it was written. As of this posting (6:20pm), the final conference...
Green Scissors 2012
June 26, 2012
Left-Right coalition identifies practical steps Congress could take to slash deficits, save natural resources....
Why Transportation Reauthorization Negotiations Are Failing: The Pay-fors Just Don’t Add Up
June 14, 2012
Congress continues to meet behind closed doors in a Conference Committee to hash out the details of a transportation bill reauthorization....
Taxpayers for Common Sense Releases Cliff Roadmap
December 06, 2012 | National Journal
The nonpartisan watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense chimed into the chorus surrounding the fiscal cliff Wednesday, releasing its own...
Politico Morning Defense 11/28/2012
November 28, 2012 | Politico
IS TODAY THE DAY FOR THE NDAA? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said yesterday he plans to bring the defense authorization bill to the...
White House: Consumer Spending Will Decline Unless Congress Averts Fiscal Cliff
November 27, 2012 | Voice of America
It was a blockbuster weekend for retailers, as Americans took advantage of big discounts to ring in the holiday shopping season. But you...
Columbia River Crossing Bridge knocked by taxpayer group
November 27, 2012 | Oregon Business Report
The watchdog taxpayer group, Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS), has included the Columbia River Crossing Bridge in its list of what it terms...
Solution to Fiscal Cliff Should Include Senator Coburn’s $68 Billion in Pentagon Spending Cuts
November 16, 2012 | Before It's News
By Christopher Preble
The fiscal cliff is looming and Washington is scrambling to reach a deal to avoid a Thelma and Louise ending in...
