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TCS Submits Comments on Draft Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects

September 10, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

TCS Submits Comments on Draft Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects On July 2, the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office announced a draft loan guarantee solicitation for advanced fossil energy... 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

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

House Committee Passes Legislation That Could Siphon Billions in Royalty Revenue from Treasury

June 13, 2013 | Our Take | Natural Resources

House Committee Passes Legislation That Could Siphon Billions in Royalty Revenue from Treasury The House Natural Resources Committee voted 23-18 Wednesday to send the “Offshore Energy and Jobs Act” (H.R. 2231) to the House Floor.... Read More

TCS Testifies on Revenue Sharing before House Natural Resources Subcommittee

June 11, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

TCS Testifies on Revenue Sharing before House Natural Resources Subcommittee Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and... Read More

TCS Submits Comments on Proposed Oil Shale Management Rule

May 28, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

TCS Submits Comments on Proposed Oil Shale Management Rule Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management proposed new regulations for royalty collection from oil shale leases on public lands.... Read More

Disaster Reforms for Resiliency

Disaster Reforms for Resiliency Over the past decade, extreme weather and storms have become increasingly commonplace – including coastal storms, wildfires, droughts,... Read More

House Subcommittee Discusses BLM Budget

May 07, 2013 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

House Subcommittee Discusses BLM Budget The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and related Agencies held a hearing today to discuss the FY2014... 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

Interior punts decision to determine royalty rate on risky oil shale speculation

March 22, 2013 | Press Releases | Energy , Natural Resources

Interior punts decision to determine royalty rate  on risky oil shale speculation TCS released a statement on the Interior Department's proposed rule making on oil shale development... Read More

Oil and Gas Production on Federal Lands High-Risk For Waste, Fraud

March 08, 2013 | Our Take | Natural Resources

Oil and Gas Production on Federal Lands High-Risk For Waste, Fraud The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released its bi-annual “High-Risk” report detailing federal programs 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

Government Report: Taxpayers Losing Billions in Unaccounted Minerals Extracted from Federal Lands

December 20, 2012 | Our Take | Natural Resources

Government Report: Taxpayers Losing Billions in Unaccounted Minerals Extracted from Federal Lands The federal government does not know the value of hardrock minerals being extracted from public lands, a new report by the Government... 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

Hall Bill to Create Millions in New Taxpayer Handouts for Oil Shale

December 10, 2012 | Press Releases | Energy , Natural Resources

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.... 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

President Ms. Ryan Alexander Sliding Past Sequestration Statement

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

TCS Testifies before House Natural Resources Subcommittee

June 10, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Natural Resources , Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) Vice-President Steve Ellis testified about federal subsidies for western water contractors and... 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

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

Counting on Speculative Oil and Gas Revenues to Fund our Transportation Needs is Fiscally Reckless

February 01, 2012 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources , Transportation & Infrastructure

Counting on Speculative Oil and Gas Revenues to Fund our Transportation Needs is Fiscally Reckless Today the House Natural Resources Committee considered the energy portions of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (the... Read More

TCS Joins Coalition Against Wasteful Army Corps of Engineer’s Deepening Delaware River Project

January 19, 2012 | Press Releases | Natural Resources , Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense joined the Delaware Riverkeeper and Water Protection Network to compile a report analyzing the wasteful Army... Read More

TCS Testifies on Royalties before House Natural Resources Subcommittee

November 18, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources , Transportation & Infrastructure

TCS Testifies on Royalties before House Natural Resources Subcommittee Ms. Ryan Alexander President Taxpayers for Common Sense   Written Testimony submitted to the... Read More

Regulatory Comments for Office of Natural Resources Revenue Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Federal Oil and Gas Valuation

July 14, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

Taxpayers for Common Sense submitted comments to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue concerning Federal Oil and Gas... 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

TCS Reaction to Sen. Manchin (D-WV) Statement on Coal Subsidies

February 03, 2011 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

We all know that lawmakers are allowed the occasional stretching of the truth, but at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources... Read More

Legislation Introduced to End Reverse Royalty for Hardrock Mining

January 31, 2011 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

Last week, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced legislation to eliminate an unnecessary giveaway for mining companies that cost... 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 Event: Greening the Budget - A Transatlantic Dialogue on Making Environmental and Fiscal Responsibility a Priority

October 20, 2010 | Event Summary | Energy , Natural Resources , Transportation & Infrastructure

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense participated in a discussion on "Making Environmental and Fiscal Responsibility a Priority." TCS was... Read More

Solar Development Train Leaving the Station, Without Congress

October 20, 2010 | Press Releases | Energy , Natural Resources

Congress’ failure to make any progress on energy policy this session is costing taxpayers.... Read More

Clean Energy Development Must Not Clean Out Taxpayer Pockets

July 22, 2010 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

Energy Legislation and Clean Energy Development The House of Representatives took another step closer to considering energy legislation... Read More

TCS Statement on BLM’s Setting of Fees for Solar Energy Development on Federal Lands

June 14, 2010 | Statements | Energy , Natural Resources

Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the schedule of rental fees it will charge for development of solar generation... Read More

Senator Seeks Repeal of Billions of Dollars in Subsidies to Oil and Gas Companies

June 08, 2010 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

 Today, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) filed an amendment, 4318, to so-called tax extenders legislation that would repeal $35 billion... Read More

GAO Reports Oil & Gas Royalties Not Measuring Up

April 14, 2010 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

In its latest of many critical reviews, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week issued a report criticizing the Department... Read More

Secretary Salazar Reiterates ‘Taxpayers Must Receive Fair Return’ for Our Natural Resources

March 23, 2010 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

In early March, the Senate Energy Natural Resources (ENR) Committee met to hear testimony from Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary... Read More

Oil and Gas Orphans Cost Taxpayers Millions

February 26, 2010 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

Today the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a detailed report documenting taxpayer costs for cleaning up oil and gas wells... Read More

Oil Companies To Reap More Profits on Backs of Federal Taxpayers

October 04, 2009 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

Taxpayers will likely lose at least $19 billion to oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court... Read More

NEW ANALYSIS: Royalty-in-Kind Program Costing Taxpayers Millions

September 15, 2009 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

Oil and Gas companies have skirted millions of dollars in payments owed to the federal government for the extraction of natural gas from... Read More

Salazar Announces Termination of Royalty-in-Kind Program

September 15, 2009 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

This morning, Interior Secretary Salazar announced that he will end the mismanaged and wasteful Minerals Management Service’s (MMS)... Read More

Important Legislation Calls for End to Double Subsidies for Hardrock Mining Operations

August 03, 2009 | Our Take | Natural Resources

Taxpayers for Common Sense applauds Senators Feingold (D-WI), Cantwell (D-WA), and Feinstein (D- CA) for introducing the Elimination of... Read More

TCS Letter to the Senate on Hardrock Mining Laws

June 23, 2009 | Letters & Testimony | Natural Resources

               June 23, 2009 Dear Senator, For more than 137 years the law... 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

New Report Raises Concerns with Royalty-In-Kind Program

October 28, 2008 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

A report released today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is at risk of... Read More

Official TCS Comments on Oil Shale Management - Proposed Rule

September 21, 2008 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule for Oil Shale Management. Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) is a... Read More

Sex, Drugs, and Mismanagement at the Department of the Interior

September 10, 2008 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

Government officials responsible for the collection of billions of dollars of oil royalties to the federal treasury accepted gifts from... Read More

Roadless Rule Struck Down Again

August 12, 2008 | Our Take | Natural Resources

The so-called roadless rule, promulgated in the final days of the Clinton Administration, has once again been struck down by U.S.... Read More

Testimony before Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Reform of 1872 Mining Law

January 24, 2008 | Letters & Testimony | Natural Resources

Good morning Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Domenici, members of the Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you... Read More

Support H.R. 2262 and Reform of General Mining Law of 1872

October 25, 2007 | Letters & Testimony | Natural Resources

End a 135 Year Old Taxpayer Giveaway Support the Reform of the General Mining Law of 1872 Vote “YES” on H.R. 2262 Dear... Read More

Hardrock Mines on Federal Lands Provide No Return to Taxpayers

September 12, 2007 | Our Take | Natural Resources

Overview Under the General Mining Law of 1872, mining companies pay no royalties to the federal government for hardrock minerals... Read More

Land Swap for Cash Puts Rep. Rick Renzi in the Hot Seat

May 01, 2007 | Our Take | Natural Resources

Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) was indicted in federal court on Feb. 22, 2008, on 35 counts including official extortion and money laundering.... Read More

Written Testimony Royalties at Risk Hearing before House Natural Resources Committee

March 27, 2007 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

Good morning Chairman Rahall and members of the committee.  Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.  My name is Ryan Alexander... Read More

Oral Testimony Royalties at Risk Hearing before House Natural Resources Committee

March 27, 2007 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

Good morning Chairman Rahall and distinguished members of the committee.  Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.  My name is... Read More

“Relief” for Oil and Gas A Fiscal Headache for Taxpayers

May 10, 2006 | Our Take | Energy , Natural Resources

“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... Read More

Stop MTBE Producers from Passing the Buck: Support the Capps Amendment to Strike MTBE Transition Assistance and Safe Harbor

April 12, 2005 | Letters & Testimony | Energy , Natural Resources

April 12, 2005 Dear Representative, We urge you to support the amendments by... Read More

GAO to Audit Bonneville Power

April 22, 2003 | Statements | Energy , Natural Resources

Washington, D.C. - The General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, has alerted the Bonneville Power... Read More

Bonneville Power Shortchanging Taxpayers

October 30, 2001 | Press Releases | Energy , Natural Resources

Bonneville Power Shortchanging Taxpayers Washington, DC -- Using a controversial interpretation of... Read More

Investigation Reveals Weaknesses in Federal Firefighting

August 01, 2001 | Press Releases | Natural Resources

  Investigation Reveals Weaknesses in Federal Firefighting Funding for Wildfire... 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