Letters & Testimony
Oppose Ag-Only Farm Bill: Spends More Than Senate Bill; Changes Make Subsidies Permanent
July 11, 2013
TCS Submits Comments on Draft Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects
September 10, 2013 |
On July 2, the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office announced a draft loan guarantee solicitation for advanced fossil energy... 
Joint Letter to Congress: Trim Fossil Fuel Giveaways in Energy Spending Bill
July 10, 2013 |
Members of the Green Scissors Campaign sent a letter to Congress today urging cuts to wasteful fossil fuel subsidies....
TCS Statement on President’s Climate Speech
June 25, 2013 |
Below is a statement by Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on the President's Speech on Climate Change....
House Committee Passes Legislation That Could Siphon Billions in Royalty Revenue from Treasury
June 13, 2013 |
The House Natural Resources Committee voted 23-18 Wednesday to send the “Offshore Energy and Jobs Act” (H.R. 2231) to the House Floor....
TCS Testifies on Revenue Sharing before House Natural Resources Subcommittee
June 11, 2013 |
Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and...
TCS Submits Comments on Proposed Oil Shale Management Rule
May 28, 2013 |
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management proposed new regulations for royalty collection from oil shale leases on public lands....
Disaster Reforms for Resiliency
May 21, 2013 |
Over the past decade, extreme weather and storms have become increasingly commonplace – including coastal storms, wildfires, droughts,...
House Subcommittee Discusses BLM Budget
May 07, 2013 |
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and related Agencies held a hearing today to discuss the FY2014...
TCS Analysis of the FY14 Presidential Budget Request
April 10, 2013 |
Taxpayers for Common Sense staff will be combing through the budget over the next several hours and days and bringing to light various...
Interior punts decision to determine royalty rate on risky oil shale speculation
March 22, 2013 |
TCS released a statement on the Interior Department's proposed rule making on oil shale development...
Oil and Gas Production on Federal Lands High-Risk For Waste, Fraud
March 08, 2013 |
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released its bi-annual “High-Risk” report detailing federal programs and...
TCS Testifies before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
February 05, 2013 |
Ryan Alexander testified before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee...
Government Report: Taxpayers Losing Billions in Unaccounted Minerals Extracted from Federal Lands
December 20, 2012 |
The federal government does not know the value of hardrock minerals being extracted from public lands, a new report by the Government...
House Science Subcommittee Debates Oil Shale Subsidies
December 12, 2012 |
The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing November 30th to discuss the development...
Hall Bill to Create Millions in New Taxpayer Handouts for Oil Shale
December 10, 2012 |
Last month, Representative Ralph Hall (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 6603) to create $50 million in new taxpayer-funded handouts for oil shale speculation....
Report shows billions risked on oil shale speculation
November 29, 2012 |
With fiscal cliff looming, TCS calls for end to government handouts for failed oil shale experiments....
President Ms. Ryan Alexander Sliding Past Sequestration Statement
October 01, 2012 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2012
CONTACTS:
Steve Ellis
202-546-8500...
Green Scissors 2012 Finds Environmentally Destructive Federal Programs
June 26, 2012 |
Left-Right coalition identifies practical steps Congress could take to slash deficits, save natural resources....
TCS Testifies before House Natural Resources Subcommittee
June 10, 2012 |
Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) Vice-President Steve Ellis testified about federal subsidies for western water contractors and...
House Cuts $25 Million in Subsidies for Oil Shale
June 06, 2012 |
Yesterday the House of Representatives cut $25 million in new funding for oil shale development. Instead of directing more subsidies at...
TCS Analysis of the FY13 Presidential Budget Request
February 13, 2012 |
Last Updated: February 19, 2012
The FY2013 Presidential Budget Request was released this morning (2/13/2012). TCS staff will be posting...
Counting on Speculative Oil and Gas Revenues to Fund our Transportation Needs is Fiscally Reckless
February 01, 2012 |
Today the House Natural Resources Committee considered the energy portions of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (the...
TCS Joins Coalition Against Wasteful Army Corps of Engineer’s Deepening Delaware River Project
January 19, 2012 |
Taxpayers for Common Sense joined the Delaware Riverkeeper and Water Protection Network to compile a report analyzing the wasteful Army...
TCS Testifies on Royalties before House Natural Resources Subcommittee
November 18, 2011 |
Ms. Ryan Alexander
President Taxpayers for Common Sense
Written Testimony submitted to the...
Regulatory Comments for Office of Natural Resources Revenue Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Federal Oil and Gas Valuation
July 14, 2011 |
Taxpayers for Common Sense submitted comments to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue concerning Federal Oil and Gas...
Updates & Budgetary Gimmicks in the Final Continuing Resolution Unveiled by House Appropriations
April 13, 2011 |
The House Appropriations Committee released the final Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the federal government for the rest of the 2011...
TCS Reaction to Sen. Manchin (D-WV) Statement on Coal Subsidies
February 03, 2011 |
We all know that lawmakers are allowed the occasional stretching of the truth, but at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources...
Legislation Introduced to End Reverse Royalty for Hardrock Mining
January 31, 2011 |
Last week, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced legislation to eliminate an unnecessary giveaway for mining companies that cost...
Reforms Proposed by National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Co-Chairs Unveiled Today
November 10, 2010 |
The Co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform gave their proposals to fellow Commission members today....
TCS Event: Greening the Budget - A Transatlantic Dialogue on Making Environmental and Fiscal Responsibility a Priority
October 20, 2010 |
Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense participated in a discussion on "Making Environmental and Fiscal Responsibility a Priority."
TCS was...
Solar Development Train Leaving the Station, Without Congress
October 20, 2010 |
Congress’ failure to make any progress on energy policy this session is costing taxpayers....
Clean Energy Development Must Not Clean Out Taxpayer Pockets
July 22, 2010 |
Energy Legislation and Clean Energy Development
The House of Representatives took another step closer to considering energy legislation...
TCS Statement on BLM’s Setting of Fees for Solar Energy Development on Federal Lands
June 14, 2010 |
Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the schedule of rental fees it will charge for development of solar generation...
Senator Seeks Repeal of Billions of Dollars in Subsidies to Oil and Gas Companies
June 08, 2010 |
Today, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) filed an amendment, 4318, to so-called tax extenders legislation that would repeal $35 billion...
GAO Reports Oil & Gas Royalties Not Measuring Up
April 14, 2010 |
In its latest of many critical reviews, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week issued a report criticizing the Department...
Secretary Salazar Reiterates ‘Taxpayers Must Receive Fair Return’ for Our Natural Resources
March 23, 2010 |
In early March, the Senate Energy Natural Resources (ENR) Committee met to hear testimony from Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary...
Oil and Gas Orphans Cost Taxpayers Millions
February 26, 2010 |
Today the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a detailed report documenting taxpayer costs for cleaning up oil and gas wells...
Oil Companies To Reap More Profits on Backs of Federal Taxpayers
October 04, 2009 |
Taxpayers will likely lose at least $19 billion to oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico.
NEW ANALYSIS: Royalty-in-Kind Program Costing Taxpayers Millions
September 15, 2009 |
Oil and Gas companies have skirted millions of dollars in payments owed to the federal government for the extraction of natural gas from...
Salazar Announces Termination of Royalty-in-Kind Program
September 15, 2009 |
This morning, Interior Secretary Salazar announced that he will end the mismanaged and wasteful Minerals Management Service’s (MMS)...
Important Legislation Calls for End to Double Subsidies for Hardrock Mining Operations
August 03, 2009 |
Taxpayers for Common Sense applauds Senators Feingold (D-WI), Cantwell (D-WA), and Feinstein (D- CA) for introducing the Elimination of...
TCS Letter to the Senate on Hardrock Mining Laws
June 23, 2009 |
June 23, 2009
Dear Senator,
For more than 137 years the law...
GAO and Land Swaps
June 11, 2009 |
The GAO has just released a lengthy report on the questionable land exchange process. TCS has frequently pointed out how the process is...
New Report Raises Concerns with Royalty-In-Kind Program
October 28, 2008 |
A report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is at risk of...
Official TCS Comments on Oil Shale Management - Proposed Rule
September 21, 2008 |
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule for Oil Shale Management. Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) is a...
Sex, Drugs, and Mismanagement at the Department of the Interior
September 10, 2008 |
Government officials responsible for the collection of billions of dollars of oil royalties to the federal treasury accepted gifts from...
Roadless Rule Struck Down Again
August 12, 2008 |
The so-called roadless rule, promulgated in the final days of the Clinton Administration, has once again been struck down by U.S....
Testimony before Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Reform of 1872 Mining Law
January 24, 2008 |
Good morning Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Domenici, members of the Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you...
Support H.R. 2262 and Reform of General Mining Law of 1872
October 25, 2007 |
End a 135 Year Old Taxpayer Giveaway
Support the Reform of the General Mining Law of 1872
Vote “YES” on H.R. 2262
Dear...
Hardrock Mines on Federal Lands Provide No Return to Taxpayers
September 12, 2007 |
Overview
Under the General Mining Law of 1872, mining companies pay no royalties to the federal government for hardrock minerals...
Land Swap for Cash Puts Rep. Rick Renzi in the Hot Seat
May 01, 2007 |
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) was indicted in federal court on Feb. 22, 2008, on 35 counts including official extortion and money laundering....
Written Testimony Royalties at Risk Hearing before House Natural Resources Committee
March 27, 2007 |
Good morning Chairman Rahall and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Ryan Alexander...
Oral Testimony Royalties at Risk Hearing before House Natural Resources Committee
March 27, 2007 |
Good morning Chairman Rahall and distinguished members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is...
“Relief” for Oil and Gas A Fiscal Headache for Taxpayers
May 10, 2006 |
“Now, we don’t think oil companies need tax incentives or subsidies to drill for oil at $70 a barrel, or for that matter at $25.” Wall...
Stop MTBE Producers from Passing the Buck: Support the Capps Amendment to Strike MTBE Transition Assistance and Safe Harbor
April 12, 2005 |
April 12, 2005
Dear Representative,
We urge you to support the amendments by...
GAO to Audit Bonneville Power
April 22, 2003 |
Washington, D.C. - The General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, has alerted the Bonneville Power...
Bonneville Power Shortchanging Taxpayers
October 30, 2001 |
Bonneville Power Shortchanging Taxpayers
Washington, DC -- Using a controversial interpretation of...
Investigation Reveals Weaknesses in Federal Firefighting
August 01, 2001 |
Investigation Reveals Weaknesses in Federal Firefighting
Funding for Wildfire...
Green Scissors Michigan Released
May 11, 1997 |
In the first single state effort of the national Green Scissors Campaign, TCS and the Michigan Land Use Institute released the Green...
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