Evolution of Earmarks

Evolution of Earmarks and Earmark Disclosure in Recent Years...

Past Recipients of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Award

2010: Senator Clare McCaskill (D-MO) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-CA) 2005: Senator John Sununu (R-NH) 2004: Representatives Steve Chabot...

About the “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” Award

Since 1999, Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) has honored lawmakers and citizen activists whose leadership and dedication have made a...

Agency Receives Golden Fleece for Shady Forest Deal in West Virginia

Washington, DC - Citing the illegal use of taxpayer dollars at the Northeastern Research Station's Fernow Experimental Forest, a national...

Political Power of the Agribusiness and Crop Insurance Lobbies

The so-called Farm Bill currently being negotiated in Congress is shaping up to be another taxpayer-funded handout to wealthy landowners,...

Haves and Have-Nots in Federal Crop Insurance

Federally subsidized crop insurance has become the largest taxpayer support for agriculture. But not all parts of the agriculture...

Loan Guarantee Program 101

A basic primer on the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program and answers general questions on the history, administration, and overall effect of the program....

Coal Subsidy Database

Over the years the coal industry has received billions in federal subsidies, in a variety of forms including direct grants, loan...

Farm Bill 101

The Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation that guides food and farm policy. It covers wide-ranging topics from rural broadband service to farm subsidy payments....

Agricultural Safety Net 101

The agricultural safety net refers to the various federal programs and policies that insulate agricultural producers from the costs of conducting business....

Engineering Boondoggles

While Washington is wringing its hands about the automatic across-the-board budget cuts known as...