What's Happening in Budget & Tax

TCS RSS Feed RSS

Left-Right Agree: Disclose Senate Tax Reform Proposals

August 01, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Left-Right Agree: Disclose Senate Tax Reform Proposals   August 1, 2013 Dear Senator, American taxpayers deserve to know the priorities of... Read More

Senate Finance Subcommittee Discusses Energy Tax Reform

August 01, 2013 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

Senate Finance Subcommittee Discusses Energy Tax Reform The Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure met Wednesday, July 31 to discuss the... Read More

It’s Time for Tax Reform Transparency

July 31, 2013 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

It’s Time for Tax Reform Transparency Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Hatch (R-UT) should be commended for their ‘Blank Slate’ approach to... Read More

Make Tax Reform Proposals Public

July 26, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Make Tax Reform Proposals Public Today, TCS joined 29 other diverse organizations in a letter urging transparency within the tax reform debate.... Read More

Fiscal Conservatives Urge Open Rule for Defense Spending Bill

July 16, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations , National Security

Fiscal Conservatives Urge Open Rule for Defense Spending Bill   July 22, 2013 Dear Speaker Boehner, We understand that the House of... Read More

Important Cuts Fail & Wasteful Subsidies Hang On in House Energy & Water Bill

July 12, 2013 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

Important Cuts Fail & Wasteful Subsidies Hang On in House Energy & Water Bill Late Wednesday night the House wrapped up debate on the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2014. Several... Read More

Joint Letter to Congress: Trim Fossil Fuel Giveaways in Energy Spending Bill

July 10, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Energy , Natural Resources

Joint Letter to Congress: Trim Fossil Fuel Giveaways in Energy Spending Bill Members of the Green Scissors Campaign sent a letter to Congress today urging cuts to wasteful fossil fuel subsidies.... Read More

Letter to Congress: Trim Funding for B61 Bomb in Energy Spending Bill

July 09, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , National Security

Letter to Congress: Trim Funding for B61 Bomb in Energy Spending Bill Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to Congress today urging support to trim funding for the B61 bomb.... Read More

Joint Letter to Congress: Support for Amendment to Cut Wasteful R,D&D

July 09, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Energy

Joint Letter to Congress: Support for Amendment to Cut Wasteful R,D&D Taxpayers for Common Sense joined several groups today in urging Congress to eliminate wasteful subsidies for the United States Enrichment Corporation.... Read More

Baucus and Hatch Propose Blank Slate Tax Reform

June 27, 2013 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Baucus and Hatch Propose Blank Slate Tax Reform Today, Senate Finance Chairman Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Hatch (R-UT) sent a letter to their colleagues proposing “blank slate”... Read More

TCS Statement on President’s Climate Speech

June 25, 2013 | Statements | Budget & Tax , Energy , Natural Resources

TCS Statement on President’s Climate Speech Below is a statement by Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on the President's Speech on Climate Change.... Read More

Fiscal Watchdogs Oppose Farm Bill Gutting Flood Insurance Reform

June 04, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture , Budget & Tax

Fiscal Watchdogs Oppose Farm Bill Gutting Flood Insurance Reform Sen. Landrieu (D-LA) has offered an amendment to the farm bill that would delay National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) reforms adopted last summer. ... Read More

Comments to House Ways and Means Committee 2013 Tax Reform Working Groups

April 15, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Comments to House Ways and Means Committee 2013 Tax Reform Working Groups The House Ways and Means Committee created eleven tax reform working groups to focus on select issues within the U.S. tax code as part of... Read More

TCS Analysis of the FY14 Presidential Budget Request

TCS Analysis of the FY14 Presidential Budget Request Taxpayers for Common Sense staff will be combing through the budget over the next several hours and days and bringing to light various... Read More

Support Bill to Prioritize Payments on U.S. Debt

April 02, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Support Bill to Prioritize Payments on U.S. Debt Today, TCS sent a letter to Rep. McClintock supporting his bill to prioritize payments on U.S. debt.... Read More

Joint Letter to the Senate: Support Crop Insurance Transparency

March 21, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture , Budget & Tax

Joint Letter to the Senate: Support Crop Insurance Transparency Taxpayers for Common Sense and eight other fiscal conservative organizations urge support for a crop insurance transparency amendment. ... Read More

Fiscal Year 2013 Continuing Resolution/Spending bills

Fiscal Year 2013 Continuing Resolution/Spending bills The current CR and spending bills theoretically mimic the FY13 appropriations bills, but we’ve started looking to see where lawmakers added and subtracted dollars.... Read More

Defense Savings Strengthen Our Economic Security

February 06, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , National Security

Defense Savings Strengthen Our Economic Security February 6, 2013 Dear Member of Congress, On behalf of the undersigned organizations and... Read More

TCS Testifies before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

February 05, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture , Budget & Tax , Energy , National Security , Natural Resources

TCS Testifies before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ryan Alexander testified before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee... Read More

Alexander to testify before Government Reform Committee today

February 01, 2013 | Coming Up | Budget & Tax

Alexander to testify before Government Reform Committee today Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander will be testifying before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on... Read More

Sandy Spending Accountability

January 31, 2013 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

Sandy Spending Accountability With the Senate's 62-36 vote, lawmakers have sent in aggregate more than $60 billion to help those affected by Superstorm Sandy. You can... Read More

TCS Statement on Fiscal Cliff Deal

January 02, 2013 | Statements | Budget & Tax

TCS Statement on Fiscal Cliff Deal The following is a statement by Ryan Alexander, President Taxpayers for Common Sense, on the fiscal cliff deal signed into law.... Read More

Top 10 Fiscal Cliff Tax Fails

January 02, 2013 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Top 10 Fiscal Cliff Tax Fails Washington’s last minute deal to avert the fiscal cliff saw the return of many never-ending “temporary” tax breaks. While the bulk of the... Read More

Lactose Intolerance: There is No Dairy Cliff

December 28, 2012 | Our Take | Agriculture , Budget & Tax

Lactose Intolerance: There is No Dairy Cliff 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... Read More

House Science Subcommittee Debates Oil Shale Subsidies

December 12, 2012 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy , Natural Resources

The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing November 30th to discuss the development... Read More

Use Common Sense to Rappel the Fiscal Cliff

December 05, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Use Common Sense to Rappel the Fiscal Cliff Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a “Common Sense Proposal to Rappel the Fiscal Cliff” to the President and congressional... Read More

Don’t Toy With the Cliff: Support TCS Today

December 02, 2012 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Don’t Toy With the Cliff: Support TCS Today Dear Friends: Congress, the administration, and the punditry at large have been bemoaning the federal government’s fiscal situation.... Read More

Report shows billions risked on oil shale speculation

November 29, 2012 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax , Energy , Natural Resources

Report shows billions risked on oil shale speculation With fiscal cliff looming, TCS calls for end to government handouts for failed oil shale experiments.... Read More

Congress: Avoid Fiscal Cliff and Go Home

November 14, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Congress: Avoid Fiscal Cliff and Go Home Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter today to all members of the 112th Congress outlining what they should do regarding the fiscal cliff.... Read More

Remarks by TCS President Ryan Alexander on Fiscal Cliff

November 08, 2012 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax

Remarks by TCS President Ryan Alexander on Fiscal Cliff Taxpayers for Common Sense held a media conference call earlier today to discuss the outcomes of the election and what the Lame Duck... Read More

President Ms. Ryan Alexander Sliding Past Sequestration Statement

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2012 CONTACTS: Steve Ellis 202-546-8500... Read More

TCS Statement on Amendment to Freeze Pentagon Budget

July 19, 2012 | Statements | Budget & Tax , National Security

TCS Statement on Amendment to Freeze Pentagon Budget The following is a written statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense on the adoption of the Frank-Mulvaney... Read More

Green Scissors 2012 Finds Environmentally Destructive Federal Programs

Green Scissors 2012 Finds Environmentally Destructive Federal Programs Left-Right coalition identifies practical steps Congress could take to slash deficits, save natural resources.... Read More

Senate Finance Committee Meets to Talk Energy Tax Reform

June 17, 2012 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing last week on tax reform and its impacts on energy policy. Among the four witnesses from... Read More

House Cuts $25 Million in Subsidies for Oil Shale

June 06, 2012 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy , Natural Resources

Yesterday the House of Representatives cut $25 million in new funding for oil shale development. Instead of directing more subsidies at... Read More

End USEC Giveaways in Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

June 04, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Energy

Congress is considering spending $100 million on the United States Enrichment Corporation’s (USEC) Piketon, Ohio enrichment project... Read More

House Backdoor Earmarks $150 million for Parochial Boondoggle

May 17, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Energy , National Security

This morning the House voted down an amendment that would have stripped the $150 million added to the National Defense Authorization Act for the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC). ... Read More

Stop $150 million for troubled uranium project in NDAA

May 15, 2012 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy , National Security

$150 million for the United States Enrichment Corporation's (USEC) Piketon, Ohio enrichment facility has been added to the National... Read More

Statement from TCS President Ms. Ryan Alexander on the House Republican Budget Resolution

March 19, 2012 | Statements | Budget & Tax

The following is a statement by Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on the House Republican Budget... Read More

President funds transportation with irresponsible ‘Peace Dividend’

February 13, 2012 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Transportation & Infrastructure

The administration's FY 2013 Presidential Budget Request proposes a $476 billion six-year reauthorization bill. This is much higher... Read More

TCS Analysis of the FY13 Presidential Budget Request

Last Updated: February 19, 2012 The FY2013 Presidential Budget Request was released this morning (2/13/2012). TCS staff will be posting... Read More

Statement by Ryan Alexander, president of TCS on the FY13 Presidential Budget Request

February 13, 2012 | Statements | Budget & Tax

The President’s fiscal year 2013 budget request is being released into swirling fiscal, economic, and electoral winds. Those winds... Read More

Coalition Demands Deficit Plans be Public

December 05, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Taxpayers for Common Sense and a coalition of groups sent a letter to the President, Speaker Boehner, and Majority Leader Reid today... Read More

Super Failure: Time for Congress to Do Its Job

November 21, 2011 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax

For Immediate Release November 21, 2011 Contact: Steve Ellis 202-546-8500 x126 Super Failure: Time for Congress to Do Its... Read More

November 4, 5:43 PM—The Latest on the Deficit Cutting Super Committee

November 14, 2011 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

November 4, 2011-5:43 PM This way madness lies. Because the vast majority of the Super Committee’s activities have occurred behind... Read More

Congressmen Support Common Sense Cuts to Wasteful Ag Spending

October 20, 2011 | Our Take | Agriculture , Budget & Tax

Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) sent a letter this week to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction... Read More

TCS Letter to the ‘Super Committee’

September 08, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Yesterday, Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to all 12 members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or the "Super... Read More

TCS Statement and Analysis on Debt Ceiling Agreement

July 31, 2011 | Statements | Budget & Tax

A statement from TCS President Ms. Ryan Alexander is below.  Analysis on the debt ceiling legislation agreed to by leadership from both... Read More

TCS on the Debt Ceiling

July 28, 2011 | Statements | Budget & Tax

Taxpayers for Common Sense statement on the debt ceiling and deficit reduction bills.          ... Read More

Support Gang of Six Bi-Partisan Plan to Reduce Our Nation’s Deficit

July 20, 2011 | Statements | Budget & Tax

    Support “Gang of Six” Bi-Partisan Plan to Reduce Our Nation’s Deficit   July 20,... Read More

Coalition Letter Supporting Ending Wasteful $6 Billion Annual Ethanol Subsidy

June 12, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense joined a broad and diverse coalition supporting Senators Coburn (R-OK), Feinstein (D-CA), and McCain (R-AZ) and their amendments this week which will end the $6 billion annual, taxpayer-funded subsidies for conventional ethanol which go to Big Oil when they blend ethanol with gasoline. ... Read More

TCS Releases Report on Largest Ethanol Subsidy

June 08, 2011 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax , Energy

Today Taxpayers for Common Sense released a comprehensive report on the largest subsidy to corn ethanol, the Volumetric Ethanol Excise... Read More

TCS post in Blue Dog Research Forum’s “Point and Counterpoint” edition on whether or not to end tax benefits to the Oil and Gas Industry

June 07, 2011 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The Blue Dog Research Forum's "Point and Counterpoint" Edition asked the question: Should We End Tax Benefits to the Oil and Gas... Read More

TCS and Panelists Brief Hill Staff on DoD and Deficit Reduction: Options for Significant Defense Savings

June 06, 2011 | Event Summary | Budget & Tax , National Security

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense senior defense policy analyst Laura Peterson introduced a panel discussion for Capitol Hill staff on... Read More

TCS Letter to House Speaker John Boehner Agreeing with his Recent Comments on Oil Subsidies

April 25, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner, regarding his recent comments that oil companies "ought to be paying their fair share."... Read More

Updates & Budgetary Gimmicks in the Final Continuing Resolution Unveiled by House Appropriations

The House Appropriations Committee released the final Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the federal government for the rest of the 2011... Read More

Briefing on DOE Loan Guarantees:: Should Taxpayers Bear the Risks for the Energy Sector with Loan Guarantees?

April 10, 2011 | Event Summary | Budget & Tax , Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense, National Taxpayers Union, The Heritage Foundation, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute will hold a discussion on the impacts of federal energy loan guarantees on the federal budget and energy markets.... Read More

Statement from TCS President Ms. Ryan Alexander on the release of the House Republican Budget Resolution

April 04, 2011 | Statements | Budget & Tax

“Chairman Ryan should be congratulated for taking the bull by the horns and releasing a budget resolution that recommends decisive steps... Read More

Coalition Letter to Congress Calls for an End to Energy Subsidies

March 17, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense along with a coalition of nearly 30 groups sent a letter to Congress calling for an end to energy... Read More

TCS Testifies at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

March 03, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture , Budget & Tax , Energy

On March 3, 2011 Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander testified at a House Committee on Oversight and Government reform... Read More

TCS Mentioned on Capitol Hill (February)

Taxpayers for Common Sense was mentioned numerous times on Capitol Hill this February.  CSPAN video provided below: February 7,... Read More

Energy Committee Questions DOE on Budget

February 18, 2011 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

Senate Energy Committee’s Hearing on the President’s FY2012 Budget Request Earlier this week the President released his budget request... Read More

Ongoing Analysis of Debate Over FY11 Continuing Resolution

February 16, 2011 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy , National Security

The House of Representatives is debating a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government for the rest of fiscal year 2011 (through... Read More

A Taxpayer Victory!  Thank You!

February 02, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

With the Senate's begrudging acceptance of an earmark moratorium, taxpayers just achieved a well-earned victory on the road to fiscal... Read More

TCS on State of the Union: Every Dollar Must be on the Table

January 25, 2011 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Taxpayers for Common Sense statement on the 2011 State of the Union address.                For... Read More

Letter to Congress: Where to Start Cutting to Trim the Deficit

January 11, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture , Budget & Tax , Energy , National Security , Transportation & Infrastructure

Today Taxpayers for Common Sense delivered to leadership in both the House and Senate a report on how Congress can quickly cut nearly... Read More

CUT-PAYGO-Lite and Other House Rules Changes

January 05, 2011 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

There have been a lot of questions swirling around the Cut-As-You-Go (CUTGO) provision that the House Republicans included in the rules... Read More

TCS President Ryan Alexander Op-Ed: The Appropriations Pork Machine (The New York Times)

January 02, 2011 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax

Ryan Alexander is president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. The early indicators of what to expect from the 112th Congress in terms of... Read More

TCS VP Steve Ellis on CSPAN Washington Journal Discussing Tax Cut Legislation and Special Interest Provisions

December 20, 2010 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense VP Steve Ellis spoke with host Libby Casey on CSPAN Washington Journal. The discussion focused... Read More

Holiday Honey Baked Hams—Special Interest Carveouts at the End of the Year

December 19, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

(Originally Posted 12/13/2010) The last legislative trains are pulling out of Capitol Hill station and there are a bunch of hobo... Read More

TCS President Ryan Alexander Statement on the National Commission for Fiscal Responsibility and Reform vote

December 03, 2010 | Statements | Budget & Tax

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander issued a statement on the National Commission for Fiscal Responsibility and... Read More

TCS Letter to Deficit Commissioners: Support the Final Report

December 02, 2010 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to the commissioners of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform urging... Read More

Deficit Commission Releases its Final Report—The Moment of Truth

December 01, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

So the "The Moment of Truth" is here. We've been combing through the specifics of the aptly titled final report of the National... Read More

Federal workers may not see pay raises for two years (Markeplace Radio)

November 29, 2010 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Washington is going to have to make some hard decisions to bring the deficit down. Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer takes a look at... Read More

TCS Letter to Deficit Commissioners

November 15, 2010 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

TCS applauds the Co-chairs for not leaving any stone unturned and acknowledging the difficult budgetary choices that must be made given... Read More

Reforms Proposed by National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Co-Chairs Unveiled Today

The Co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform gave their proposals to fellow Commission members today.... Read More

TCS VP Steve Ellis on Fox Business News re: Top Ten Congressional Reforms for the 112th Congress

October 31, 2010 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax

TCS VP Steve Ellis discussed our Top Ten Congressional Reforms for the 112th Congress on Fox Business News yesterday.  A link to the... Read More

Senate Takes a Step Toward Earmark Transparency

July 27, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

By an 11-5 vote today the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee passed  S.3335, the Earmark Transparency Act of 2010.... Read More

Bipartisan Support for Earmark Database Bill Continues

June 01, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

(June 2)  Fully one-fifth of Senators have now joined efforts to show American taxpayers the true priorities of Congress. ... Read More

House Appropriations Committee Releases Emergency Spending Bill Summary

May 26, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The House Appropriations Committee has released the Summary of the proposed FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act.  This more than $80... Read More

TCS President Ryan Alexander’s Hearing Testimony on The Legality and Efficacy of Line-Item Veto

May 26, 2010 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander testified at the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on the Legality and Efficacy of Line-Item Veto Proposals... Read More

Senate Climate Bill Loads up Taxpayer Giveaways

May 11, 2010 | Statements | Budget & Tax , Energy

Washington, DC -- Today Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) will release their long awaited climate legislation, the... Read More

Taxpayers Must Not Carry Water for Bad Projects: Comments on the Draft Principles and Standards for Water Resource Projects

April 14, 2010 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense submitted comments to the Federal Register concerning revisions to how the nation's water resources are... Read More

House Republicans Adopt One-Year Earmark Moratorium

March 11, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

It’s been quite a whirlwind the last couple days. On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) announced a... Read More

Ensuring Taxpayer Losses

March 10, 2010 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Transportation & Infrastructure

TCS Vice President Steve Ellis was invited to testify before a House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee holding a hearing... Read More

House Spending Committee Continues Down Path of Earmark Reform

March 10, 2010 | Event Summary | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

The House Appropriations Committee took a positive step today on the long journey toward earmark reform. Chairman David Obey (D-WI)... Read More

Ongoing TCS Analysis of the FY2011 Budget Proposal

February 26, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , National Security

(February 23, 2010) Border Security Still Not Paying its Dues Funding for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s Secure Border Initiative... Read More

FY2011 Budget Request: Department of Energy Request

February 01, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The Presidents fiscal year 2011 (FY2011) budget request includes a $28.4 billion discretionary budget for the Department of Energy (DOE).... Read More

TCS Applauds President’s Commitment to End Big Oil’s Tax Breaks but Disappointed in Call for Nuclear and Clean Coal Subsidies

January 28, 2010 | Statements | Budget & Tax , Energy

Written Statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense: Last night in his State of the Union address,... Read More

Statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, President, Taxpayers for Common Sense on the State of the Union Address

January 27, 2010 | Statements | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

Washington, DC - The President laid out the economic and fiscal challenges facing the country tonight in the State of the Union. The... Read More

TCS on the President’s Proposed FY2011 Budget Freeze

January 26, 2010 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense on the President’s reported proposed three-year budget freeze that excludes... Read More

Citigroup Returning TARP Money May Cost Taxpayers Billions

December 16, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

A Washington Post story this morning throws some cold water on the rosy reports of taxpayers turning a profit under the financial... Read More

Bailout Bank Bio: Citigroup Inc.

December 14, 2009 | Budget & Tax

Citigroup continues to be one of the largest recipients of taxpayer assistance under TARP (the financial industry bailout). Citigroup is... Read More

Bailout Transparency Continues to Fall Short

October 07, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) just released its eighth report on TARP, this one a look back over the life of the program. ... Read More

Inouye, Cochran Benefit from Earmark Recipients

September 28, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations , National Security

Taxpayers for Common Sense has mapped the connections between earmarks and campaign contributions for the chairman and ranking member of... Read More

House Approves 3-Month Highway Bill Extension

September 23, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Transportation & Infrastructure

The House of Representatives last night voted overwhelmingly – 335-85 – to extend the nation’s transportation program (SAFETEA-LU), which... Read More

A Billion Here A Billion There

September 17, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Taxpayers received a bit of good news this morning.  The Treasury Department announced it will be letting the Guarantee Program for Money... Read More

House Opportunity to Shoot Down Funding for Defense Contractor Raided by FBI

There are several amendments on the House Defense spending bill that is on the floor this morning. In addition to the important earmark... Read More

TCS Statement on the Senate’s F-22 Cut

July 23, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , National Security

The following is a statement by Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander on the 58-40 Senate vote to eliminate additional... Read More

House Defense Appropriations Committee Members Rake in Nearly $1 million from Potential Earmark Beneficiaries

A Taxpayers for Common Sense analysis found that the House lawmakers who write the annual defense spending bill asked for billions of... Read More

Captain Morgan’s Bailout Binge

June 26, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Bloomberg News reports today on some of the more egregious unintended consequences of the Economic Stabilization legislation (Bank... Read More

Obama Waves Veto Pen at Wasteful Fighter Jet

June 24, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , National Security

President Obama came out swinging yesterday, issuing the first veto threat of his presidency to tackle a congressional sacred cow... Read More

Congressional Watchdog Reviews Bailout Program

June 17, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Congress’s watchdog, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), just released its fifth and the most recent of its required reports on... Read More

GAO and Land Swaps

June 11, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Natural Resources

The GAO has just released a lengthy report on the questionable land exchange process.  TCS has frequently pointed out how the process is... Read More

House Commerce, Justice, Science Earmarks

June 09, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

The House Appropriatations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) released the list of earmarks from its... Read More

Congressional Oversight Panel June Report

June 08, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The Congressional Oversight Panel, a Congressionally appointed watchdog for last fall's bailout, has released its June report.  Access... Read More

House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on Department of Energy FY10 Budget Request

June 07, 2009 | Event Summary | Budget & Tax , Energy

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee heard testimony from Department of Energy Secretary... Read More

John Wilke: Americans Lose a Taxpayer Champion

May 10, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

May 4, 2009: Taxpayers across the country have lost a great friend and ally. John Wilke, Wall Street Journal reporter and editor, lost... Read More

Ongoing TCS Analysis of the FY2010 Budget Proposal

May 10, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

(May 11, 2009; 3:15 pm) The Treasury's Office of Tax Policy has released its General Explanations of the Administration's Fiscal Year... Read More

Massive Increase for DOE Loan Guarantee Program Dropped from Budget Resolution

April 28, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The Conference Agreement on the Budget Resolution that is expected to pass the House and Senate today does not include language... Read More

Congress Releases 2010 Joint Budget Resolution Conference Report

April 27, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Congress just released the conference report on its joint Budget resolution. The House may take it up as soon as today and the Senate... Read More

Corps of Engineers Releases Stimulus Project List

April 27, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Transportation & Infrastructure

Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released their stimulus project list. The first thing that comes to mind is that the Obama... Read More

Bailout Inspector General Report: Tremendous Expansion in the Scope, Scale, and Complexity of TARP

April 20, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Neil Barofsky, Special Inspector General for the Treasury's Toxic Assets Relief Program (SIGTARP), released his quarterly report on the... Read More

$50 Billion Expansion for Loan Guarantee Program is back

April 01, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Today the Senate is voting on dozens of amendments to its annual Budget Resolution; the blueprint for the Congress’s spending plan for... Read More

Bank Bailouts: Federal Watchdogs Critical of TARP

March 30, 2009 | Coming Up | Budget & Tax

This morning the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to receive updated information from the federal watchdog agencies charged with... Read More

Recommendations to the President for Earmark Reform

March 10, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

At Taxpayers for Common Sense, we believe that all funding decisions must be made on the basis of merit, federal priorities and national... Read More

The President’s Energy Budget

March 03, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The President’s budget released last week includes $ 26.3 billion for the Department of Energy, a $2.1 billion increase over 2008 and... Read More

President Cuts Oil and Gas Subsidies

March 02, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The President’s budget highlights, released last week, took the ax to major subsidies to the oil and gas industry. Through the... Read More

National Security Spending in the 2010 Budget

February 27, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , National Security

Though the topline numbers in the Obama administration’s national security budget for 2010 may not make headlines, there’s a lot of... Read More

Billions in Risky Energy Loan Guarantees Included in Omnibus

February 26, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed yesterday in the House and is expected next week in the Senate includes $47 billion for the... Read More

President Obama Releases 2010 Federal Budget

February 26, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

President Obama has released his proposed federal budget for FY2010.  Download a copy of the budget here:  FY10 Federal Budget... Read More

Agriculture Policy Reform in the Federal Budget

February 26, 2009 | Our Take | Agriculture , Budget & Tax

The President’s budget proposals for the Department of Agriculture includes a number of items that TCS would like to see come to... Read More

Letter to the President: Pledge to Keep the Stimulus Earmark Free

February 23, 2009 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the millions of members of our respective... Read More

Final Stimulus Bill Posted

February 13, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The House of Representatives website is being bombarded by taxpayers trying to read the final economic stimulus bill. All 1500... Read More

Causes of the Financial Crisis (CRS Report)

February 10, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

A handy website called Open CRS has been tracking down as many Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports they can get their hands on... Read More

Taxpayer Victory—We Have Stopped the Congressional Pay Raise

February 10, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

UPDATE--February 10, 2009 The House of Representatives has heard your call. Today, Speaker Pelosi instructed the Appropriations... Read More

CBO: Senate Stimulus Costs $838.2 Billion

February 09, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released its score for the Senate version of the stimulus legislation.  CBO estimates the... Read More

Senate Reaches Deal on Stimulus Bill

February 07, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

This evening the Senate reached a deal on the economic stimulus bill. The deal was cut after agreement was met over what money should  be... Read More

Two Bailout Oversight Reports Released

February 06, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Two official reports on the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), a.k.a. the bailout,  have been released.  One is from the TARP... Read More

Senate Starts Debate on Economic Stimulus This Week

February 02, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Starting today, the Senate will be debating its version of the Economic Stimulus bill. The Senate Appropriation Committee has posted its... Read More

Senate Substitute Economic Stimulus Bill Released

February 02, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The Senate has released its final version of the Economic Stimulus bill.  Download the full bill here.  Debate on the bill began Monday,... Read More

Bank Bailout: GAO to Treasury Department - More Effort Needed

January 30, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has just released its second report on the progress of the Treasury Department’s in... Read More

Stimulus Aid to States: Some Room for Improvement

January 29, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

States are struggling in the current recession, and unlike the federal government, most are required to balance their budgets.  ... Read More

Bailout Oversight Panel Releases Special Report

January 29, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Today the Congressional Oversight Panel released a special report on regulatory reform. The bottom line, it calls for a complete overhaul... Read More

Key Accountability and Transparency Provisions in the Economic Stimulus Legislation

January 28, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

There are a lot of legitimate concerns about the size of the economic stimulus legislation and where some of the specific funds are... Read More

Evaluating Economic Stimulus Legislation

January 27, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The House of Representatives is expected Wednesday to vote on an economic stimulus package, H.R. 1, the ‘‘American Recovery and... Read More

House Economic Stimulus Bill Released

January 25, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The latest version of the economic stimulus legislation that contains both the appropriations and tax portions of the legislation has... Read More

Senate Finance Committee Releases Portion of Stimulus Bill

January 23, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on its version of an $825 billion economic stimulus package next week. The House package... Read More

GAO and Bailout banks

January 16, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

As part of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) work on offshore tax havens, their most recent report – released today – really... Read More

House Releases $825 billion Economic Stimulus Bill

January 15, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Today, the House Appropriations committee released their portion of the proposed $825 billion economic stimulus package. Here is the... Read More

Are Bailout Banks Lending Money?

January 14, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

This morning, The New York Times published an excellent story about some of the problems with the financial sector bailout – the Troubled... Read More

Better Bailout Disclosure Coming?

January 08, 2009 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

One of the concerns Taxpayers for Common Sense and others have raised about the bailout funds is that the beneficiaries weren’t being... Read More

Treasury Department Releases Report on Bailout Progress

December 31, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

On New Year's Eve day, the Treasury Department released their response to the questions posed by the Congressional Oversight Panel over... Read More

Ring in the New Year with Citibank Rose Bowl

December 23, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

We caught an ad earlier for the Rose Bowl, excuse us, we mean, the “Rose Bowl presented by Citi”. That’s right, for the first time the... Read More

Capitol Visitor Center Still Not Completed

December 23, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Hundreds of millions of dollars overbudget, four years overdue and the Capitol Visitor Center is still not finished. Although... Read More

Read the Big 3 Automakers’ Bailout Plans

December 10, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Last week, the CEOs of Detroit’s “big 3” automakers made their second trip to Washington to plead for government support in the form of a... Read More

Sens. McCaskill and Grassley Support Strengthened Bailout Watchdog

December 09, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Today, Sens. McCaskill (D-MO), Grassley (R-IA) and several others introduced legislation to strengthen the Inspector General for Troubled... Read More

Auto Bailout Draft Legislation

December 08, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

TCS has obtained a draft copy of the auto bailout legislation. Read the text here. We just got it and are looking through it, but... Read More

Sources Say Secret Hold on Bailout Watchdog Lifted

December 04, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Reuters News Agency reported late last night that, according to Senate aides, the secret hold on Neil Barofsky’s nomination as Inspector... Read More

Bailout Lacks Measures of Success and Oversight Tools

December 02, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

It’s been about two months since the U.S. Treasury Department implemented its Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). With nearly half of... Read More

Uncle Sam Should Review Sports Sponsorships by Bailout Banks

November 24, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Under the financial bailout, taxpayers are becoming silent investors in numerous banks and other financial institutions. While Uncle Sam... Read More

Bring Home the Bailout Bucks

November 10, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Got a pen? Taxpayers for Common Sense has obtained the application needed to get a piece of the bailout pie. We’re all for streamlining... Read More

New Tax Breaks Increase Bailout Cost

October 30, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Outside of the financial sectors and the business pages of newspapers and magazines, most people likely missed the recent Treasury... Read More

Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Bank Bailout Spending

October 30, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Concerns are rising that the Treasury Department is allowing banks too much leeway to decide how they spending the bailout funds. Reports... Read More

Banks Pressed on Bonus Plans

October 29, 2008 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax

Andrew Cuomo, the Attorney General of the State of New York, sent a letter yesterday to nine banks seeking each bank’s “expected payments... Read More

New Congress Should Freeze Own Pay

October 26, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

With the economy on the ropes, hundreds of thousands of Americans losing their jobs, and a national debt over $10 trillion, it is time... Read More

Rum Producers Benefit from Bailout Bill

October 26, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Little noticed beneficiaries of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, commonly known as the $810 billion bailout bill, are... Read More

50% of Bailout Package Spent

October 15, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

With Treasury’s $250 billion bank investment plan, and notice served on Congress that an additional $100 billion will be tapped to... Read More

Top 10 Tax Sweeteners in the Bailout Bill

October 09, 2008 | Budget & Tax

Update: The House has just passed the final version of the 2008 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, without making any changes to the... Read More

Treasury Releases Interim Oversight Policies

October 05, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , National Security

The Treasury Department today released interim policies on hiring contractors to manage the bailout and to handle potential conflicts of... Read More

House Passes Bailout Bill

October 02, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

The House of Representatives today passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 by 263-171. Click here to read about the $110... Read More

TCS Statement on the Upcoming Senate Bailout Vote

September 30, 2008 | Statements | Budget & Tax

Washington, D.C – The following is a prepared statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense on the upcoming... Read More

Oversight Provisions in Bailout Bill

September 30, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

The 2008 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act contains stronger oversight protections than the three-page bill Treasury Secretary Henry... Read More

TCS Statement on the Bailout Plan

September 29, 2008 | Statements | Budget & Tax

Washington, D.C – The following is a prepared statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense on the Emergency... Read More

New Analysis: Lawmakers Cutting Their Earmark Calories

August 17, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

During this election year, lawmakers are showing slight restraint in writing the earmarks in the FY 2009 spending bills, according to an... Read More

Free Ride for Foreign Companies

August 11, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

No one likes paying taxes. But most of us suck it up and do so every year, which helps pay for everything from new roads and bridges to... Read More

Alaska’s Federal Spending Bounty

July 31, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Like we needed any other facts to verify that Senator Ted Stevens has had the appropriations committee wired for some time, we used... Read More

TCS Statement on Don Young Ad Controversy

July 25, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

Washington, D.C. – The following is a written Statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense: It has come to... Read More

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Mortgage Bailout

July 21, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

There have been a lot of numbers floating around the proposed bailout backstop for the government sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae... Read More

Schoolyard Antics Derail House Spending Bills

July 09, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

In a tussle worthy of a schoolyard, the spending bosses in the House of Representatives have decided to hang up their cleats and go home.... Read More

House Appropriations Committee Smackdown

June 25, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

The House appropriations committee had a melt down today. After a bit of posturing, it appeared they were going to get down to business... Read More

House Appropriations Committtee Disciplines DHS

June 24, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

The $40 billion Homeland Security spending bill marked up by the House Appropriations Committee yesterday is $2.3 billion over the... Read More

Appropriations Committees Ramp Up Activities

June 19, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations

Theyyyyyyyyyyy’re back. On both sides of the Capitol, the spending gears are starting to turn as the Appropriations committees meet to... Read More

Defense Earmarks

June 04, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , National Security

What a week! So we are slogging through the defense spending bill. From our counting of the earmark disclosure tables at the end of the... Read More

Future Cash Combat

February 05, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , National Security

11:30 a.m. -- The Army’s Future Combat Systems, a sprawling modernization program that encompasses several phased deployments of weapons... Read More

Missile Defense

February 05, 2008 | Press Releases | Budget & Tax , National Security

11:20 a.m. -- The administration’s request included $9 billion for the Missile Defense Agency, the organization within the Defense... Read More

Interest Payments on Debt Skyrocket

February 05, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

3:25 p.m. -- With the economy in the tank and rising federal debt, the costs of servicing the federal debt is skyrocketing. According to... Read More

President Supports Controversial Loan Guarantee Program

February 04, 2008 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Energy

The administration’s 2009 budget for the Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program requests $38.5 billion in loan guarantee... Read More

As the Omnibus Turns

December 12, 2007 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

While House Appropriations Cardinals are supposedly shaking the spending trees to find programs to cut from the end-of-the-year... Read More

TCS Commissioned Report—Billions Spent to Deter Marijuana Use, But Program Effectiveness Remains Unknown

June 28, 2005 | Budget & Tax

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal substance in the United States, and study after study shows that despite spending billions of... Read More

TCS Testimony: Waste, Fraud and Abuse in U.S. Government Contracting in Iraq

February 14, 2005 | Letters & Testimony | Budget & Tax

Oral Statement of Steve Ellis, Vice President of Programs, Taxpayers for Common Sense before Senate Democratic Policy Committee... Read More

TCS Statement on Efforts to Add Energy Amendments to Internet Tax Non-discrimination Act of 2003

April 28, 2004 | Statements | Budget & Tax , Energy

The following is a written statement by Jill Lancelot, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a national budget watchdog on efforts to... Read More

Don’t Forget the Debt

April 01, 2001 | Our Take | Budget & Tax

As tax-cut fever grips Washington, details like the fact that Uncle Sam is still deeply in the red are being downplayed.   While... Read More

ISTEA Brewing Trouble

April 05, 1998 | Our Take | Budget & Tax , Transportation & Infrastructure

As the House overwhelmingly passed its version of the budget-busting new highway bill last week 317–85, divisions brewed between... Read More

Green Scissors Michigan Released

May 11, 1997 | Statements | Budget & Tax , Earmarks & Appropriations , Natural Resources

In the first single state effort of the national Green Scissors Campaign, TCS and the Michigan Land Use Institute released the Green... Read More

Weekly Wastebasket

Our weekly reality-check for federal spending. View All

September 13, 2013

Syria: Excuse 535 To Not Cut the Deficit

Volume XVIII No. 37 Possible action in Syria has become the most recent excuse du jour for Pentagon boosters... Read More