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USEC Posts Net Loss in Second Quarter; Seeking Further Taxpayer Handouts

August 08, 2013 | Our Take | Energy

USEC Posts Net Loss in Second Quarter; Seeking Further Taxpayer Handouts The United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) recently released its midterm financial report and in addition to troubling financials,... Read More

Congressional Summer Ends with a THUD

August 01, 2013 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

Congress is on the verge of heading home for a five-week vacation (“home work period” is the euphemism they use). In the run-up to... Read More

Essential Air Service: Why Reform Isn’t Reducing Overall Cost

July 30, 2013 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

Early last year, the President signed the “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012,” authorizing spending for the Federal Aviation... Read More

Letter to House: Support McClintock-Bridenstine-Hudson Amendment to Cut Essential Air Service

July 30, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Support McClintock amendment to cut Essential Air Service funding.... Read More

Letter to Senate: Support Common Sense Amendments to Transportation/HUD Appropriations Bill

July 24, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Propsals would cut wasteful spending and increase transparency.... Read More

A Lesson in What Saving Money Means to Congress: Essential Air Service

July 11, 2013 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

A Lesson in What Saving Money Means to Congress: Essential Air Service Essential Air Service (EAS) reforms passed as part of last year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill were intended... Read More

A Cigar for SIGAR – Documenting Hundreds of Millions of Dollars of Waste in Afghanistan

June 28, 2013 | Our Take | National Security

A Cigar for SIGAR – Documenting Hundreds of Millions of Dollars of Waste in Afghanistan The title says it all: “[Department of Defense] Moving Forward with $771.8 Million Purchase of Aircraft that the Afghans Cannot Operate... Read More

Golden Fleece Award to Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority for a Decade of Waste Cheerleading a Bridge in Alaska

June 26, 2013 | Press Releases | Transportation & Infrastructure

Golden Fleece Award to Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority for a Decade of Waste Cheerleading a Bridge in Alaska A press release from TCS on the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority being awarded the most recent "Golden Fleece."... Read More

Small Taxpayer Victory: Outdated Airport Subsidy Reduced

June 19, 2013 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

Small Taxpayer Victory: Outdated Airport Subsidy Reduced In a small victory for taxpayers, the Department of Transportation (DOT) last week issued an order terminating Essential Air Service... Read More

Energy and Water Spending Bill Passes Subcommittee

June 18, 2013 | Our Take | Earmarks & Appropriations , Energy

Energy and Water Spending Bill Passes Subcommittee The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies voted today to pass the fiscal year 2014... Read More

Washington Post Slams Charlottesville Bypass

June 17, 2013 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

Washington Post Slams Charlottesville Bypass Over the weekend, Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney published a piece about the ridiculous proposal to build the Charlottesville... Read More

Letter to House: Support Common Sense Amendments to FY14 NDAA

June 14, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | National Security

Letter to House: Support Common Sense Amendments to FY14 NDAA These amendments would help bring the total level of spending in line with what is already agreed to in current law.... 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

Support McCain-Flake Amendment No. 955

May 23, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture , Energy

Support McCain-Flake Amendment No. 955     Support McCain-Flake Amendment No. 955 May 23, 2013 The... Read More

2013 House and Senate Farm Bills Stack on More Subsidies

May 15, 2013 | Our Take | Agriculture

2013 House and Senate Farm Bills Stack on More Subsidies As we expected, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees went to great lengths this week to save as little money as possible in their... Read More

Water Waste: Cut Costly Provisions from Water Resources Development Act

May 08, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Water Waste: Cut Costly Provisions from Water Resources Development Act The Senate WRDA bill is too costly to stand.... Read More

Costly Water Projects Bill Demands Scrutiny

April 10, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | Earmarks & Appropriations , Transportation & Infrastructure

Costly Water Projects Bill Demands Scrutiny Taxpayers for Common Sense and eight other organizations allied on this issue urge scrutiny of S.601, the Water Resources Development Act of 2013... Read More

Essential Air Service: Illustrating Coming Changes to the Program

April 04, 2013 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

Essential Air Service: Illustrating Coming Changes to the Program The Essential Air Service (EAS) is a federal subsidy program created in the 1970s as part of airline deregulation. Though the program was... Read More

Hagel Grabs the Axe

April 03, 2013 | Our Take | National Security

Hagel Grabs the Axe There was never any question that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel would have to wield the budget axe—simple fiscal and political math... Read More

It’s Budget Season…Play Ball!

April 02, 2013 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

It’s Budget Season…Play Ball! Dear Taxpayer, Classic inside baseball. Above is just one nugget Taxpayers for Common Sense came across while reading page 237 of... 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

The Beat Continues on the Charlottesville Bypass

The Beat Continues on the Charlottesville Bypass In a great piece about the proposed Charlottesville (VA) Bypass, James Bacon from Bacon’s Rebellion lays out several significant problems... Read More

TCS President Statement on Golden Fleece Awarded for Federal Spending on Small Modular Reactors

February 27, 2013 | Statements | Energy

TCS President Statement on Golden Fleece Awarded for Federal Spending on Small Modular Reactors Today we present the Golden Fleece Award to the Department of Energy for providing federal subsidies for small modular reactors or SMRs. ... Read More

Golden Fleece Award Goes to Department of Energy for Federal Spending on Small Modular Reactors

February 27, 2013 | Press Releases | Energy

Golden Fleece Award Goes to Department of Energy for Federal Spending on Small Modular Reactors TCS awarded the Golden Fleece to DOE for wasting taxpayer funds on small modular reactors.... Read More

Military Brass Play a Fiscal Requiem for Defense

February 15, 2013 | Our Take | National Security

Military Brass Play a Fiscal  Requiem for Defense Capitol Hill’s hearing rooms again witnessed a vale of tears this week as the Armed Services Committees of both the House and Senate... Read More

Step Outside the MOX

February 06, 2013 | Letters & Testimony | National Security

Step Outside the MOX 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... Read More

Even More Options for Cutting Crop Insurance Costs

February 05, 2013 | Our Take | Agriculture

Even More Options for Cutting Crop Insurance Costs Defenders of agricultural subsidies at all costs are starting to feel the heat. Yesterday, professors from Ohio State University,... Read More

Heard On The Hill: Support TCS Today

February 05, 2013 | Our Take |

Heard On The Hill: Support TCS Today Dear Fellow Taxpayer, I wanted you to know you’re getting your money’s worth. Earlier today I testified before the House Committee on... 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

Defense Authorization Bill: More Money, Less Savings

December 21, 2012 | Our Take | Earmarks & Appropriations , National Security

Defense Authorization Bill: More Money, Less Savings The Senate today passed the final version of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which, though late, will still beat the... Read More

Golden Fleece Awarded to Agriculture Risk Management Agency

December 13, 2012 | Press Releases | Agriculture

Golden Fleece Awarded to Agriculture Risk Management Agency TCS awarded the Golden Fleece to USDA's Risk Management Agency for wasting taxpayer funds... Read More

TCS Cited in Bipartisan Congressional Letter on Defense Savings

December 10, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | National Security

TCS Cited in Bipartisan Congressional Letter on Defense Savings A group of eleven Democratic and eleven Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Obama and... Read More

TCS Supports Extending Whistleblower Protections

November 30, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | National Security

TCS Supports Extending Whistleblower Protections November 28, 2012 An Open Letter to the Senate in Support of More Protections for Taxpayer Dollars Dear Senator: We the undersigned... Read More

Letter to Congress: Oppose Any Fiscal Cliff Farm Bill Deal

November 29, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture

Letter to Congress: Oppose Any Fiscal Cliff Farm Bill Deal Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to Congress urging members to reject passing a nearly trillion-dollar farm bill in the lame duck session.... Read More

The Department of Everything

November 15, 2012 | Our Take | National Security

The Department of Everything We love to remind people that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is the world’s largest bureaucracy, employing more than the world’s... Read More

DOD Acquisition Reforms: Spending Money is Hard!

November 13, 2012 | Our Take | National Security

“It turns out acquisition reform is hard,” said Undersecretary of Defense Frank Kendall at yesterday’s rollout of the Defense... Read More

President Ms. Ryan Alexander Sliding Past Sequestration Statement

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

Letter to the Speaker: Washington Cannot Make It Rain

September 14, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture

Letter to the Speaker: Washington Cannot Make It Rain Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to Speaker Boehner to oppose $1 trillion worth of bad agriculture policy.... 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

Oppose House Farm Bill Draft: Fails to Reform; Creates New Subsidy Entitlement Programs

July 09, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture

Taxpayers for Common Sense joined together with several groups today urging Congress to oppose the House of Representative's Draft Farm... 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

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

Defense Authorization Antics Begin

May 24, 2012 | Our Take | National Security

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the largest policy bill directing the nation’s annual spending, accounting for some $650... 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

Spending Even Less, Spending Even Smarter Report Released

May 07, 2012 | Press Releases | National Security

Spending Even Less, Spending Even Smarter Report Released Watchdog Groups Identify Nearly $700 Billion in Wasteful Spending on National Security... Read More

Golden Fleece Awarded to Riverboat Ripoff

April 11, 2012 | Press Releases | Transportation & Infrastructure

Golden Fleece Awarded to Riverboat Ripoff             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2012 CONTACTS: Steve Ellis, Taxpayers for... 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

TCS Statement on Senate Adoption of “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” (MAP-21)

March 13, 2012 | Statements | Transportation & Infrastructure

The following is a statement by Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on S. 1813, "Moving Ahead for Progress in the... Read More

Coalition Letter Urges Congress to Reject Linking Drilling Revenues to the Highway Trust Fund, Preserve User-Pays

February 13, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Reason Foundation, National Taxpayers Union, and Natural Resources Defense... Read More

FutureGen Behind Schedule: What’s Happening to Taxpayers’ Billion Dollars?

February 09, 2012 | Our Take | Energy

Despite a billion dollar taxpayer investment and years of commitment by the Department of Energy (DOE), in a United States Energy... Read More

FAA Reauthorization: EAS reforms fail taxpayers

February 03, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense Action sent a letter to members of Congress as they consider legislation on FAA... Read More

Oil Profits Stay High; Needless Subsidies Continue

February 02, 2012 | Our Take | Energy

It appears the oil and gas industry is looking to continue its decade long trend of record profits. As of February 2nd, Chevron, Exxon... Read More

FAA Reauthorization Should Include EAS Reforms

January 31, 2012 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense Action sent a letter to House and Senate conferees before they meet today to negotiate differences between... 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

Plenty of Money Moving Around Defense Authorization Bill

December 14, 2011 | Our Take | National Security

Plenty of Money Moving Around Defense Authorization Bill Followers of the annual National Defense Authorization Act will recall the kerfuffle that occurred earlier this year after lawmakers in... Read More

Letter and Briefing on the Wasteful, Expiring $6 Billion Ethanol Subsidy

December 12, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense worked with Congressional allies to get 73 Representatives to sign a letter last week asking Speaker of the... Read More

Coalition Letter Opposing Passing Farm Bill Through Super Committee

November 02, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense joined a coalition on a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, asking them to not... 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

Support FAA Extension, Reform the Essential Air Service

August 01, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense Action sent a letter to the Senate, encouraging it to pass H.R. 2553, which would reform the wasteful... Read More

House Should Support Stronger Reforms to the Wasteful Essential Air Service

July 20, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to the House of Representatives urging strong reforms of the wasteful and outdated... Read More

Analyzing the House Transportation Proposal

July 18, 2011 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure John Mica (R-FL) released a summary of his transportation... Read More

Senate Energy Committee Needs to Stop the Clean Energy Deployment Administration

July 10, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense joined with other groups urging Congress to save taxpayers from footing the bill for billions in risky loans by not creating the Clean Energy Deployment Administration.... Read More

Anchorage Sues FHWA to Stop Knik Arm Crossing

July 07, 2011 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

The Municipality of Anchorage (Alaska) filed suit in U.S. District Court challenging the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of the... Read More

Coalition letter in support of Reps. Herger and Crowley bill to end 30 years of tax credits to the E

June 27, 2011 | Letters & Testimony |

Today, a diverse coalition of groups including Taxpayers for Common Sense released a letter to Representatives Herger (R-CA) and Crowley (D-NY), expressing strong support for their bill, the Ethanol Subsidy Repeal Act, which would end more than 30 years of tax credits to the ethanol industry. The Act would save taxpayers several billion dollars this year alone, with no impact to the ethanol industry.... Read More

TCS National Security Spending Update: Spending Big on Services

June 23, 2011 | Our Take | National Security

The Senate Armed Services Committee released the report for the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act on Friday, and though it will... 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

Coalition Letter Opposing Clean Energy Deployment Administration

May 25, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense and a coalition of groups sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee calling for them to oppose the Clean Energy Deployment Administration.... Read More

Federal taxpayers railroaded? New report says California’s rail project needs an overhaul

May 17, 2011 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently announced an additional $2 billion in grant money for developing high speed rail (HSR)... Read More

Coalition Letter Opposing Wasteful Mississippi River Locks

April 17, 2011 | Letters & Testimony | Transportation & Infrastructure

Taxpayers for Common Sense recently joined other Nicollet Island Coalition members on a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers detailing how new locks on the Upper Mississippi are economically unjustified.... Read More

Budget Gimmicks in FY11 Defense Bill

April 14, 2011 | Our Take | National Security

Washington is abuzz with talk of the deficit-reduction plan President Obama announced Wednesday, mostly along the lines of “wait, what... Read More

TCS Statement on the JSF Alternate Engine Cancellation

March 23, 2011 | Statements | National Security

Statement by TCS President Ms. Ryan Alexander on the announcement the Defense Department issued a stop-work order on the Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine program.... 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

Broad Coalition Supports Senators Efforts to End VEETC

March 11, 2011 | Press Releases | Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense alongside a broad and diverse coalition of groups sent a letter supporting the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax... 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

Broad Coalition Calls for the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit to Expire

March 01, 2011 | Press Releases | Agriculture , Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense along with 90 other organizations and associations delivered a letter to Congressional leaders on Tuesday... 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

UPDATE: Gates Shifts Defense Dollars

January 06, 2011 | Our Take | National Security

Defense Secretary Robert Gates today gave what was billed as one of the longest speeches in his current job, defining the battlefield for... Read More

TCS President Ryan Alexander Statement on the Defense Cuts Announced by Sec. Robert Gates

January 06, 2011 | Press Releases | National Security

Please find below a statement from Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense on the defense cuts announced today by... 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

Diverse Coalition Calls for Congress to End the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC)

November 29, 2010 | Press Releases | Energy

Taxpayers for Common Sense, together with a diverse coalition of 58 groups, sent a letter to congressional leaders today urging them to... Read More

President Pumps up Nuke Budget Again

November 18, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

The White House released a plan yesterday to pump up their investment in the United States’ nuclear weapons complex by another $4.1... Read More

As the Armed Services Committee Turns

November 03, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

Now that the final ballots have come in, it’s time to assess the impact the midterms will have on the Congressional committees that... Read More

GAO Report Slams DHS Management of SBInet Contractor

October 18, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

  The Department of Homeland Security did not effectively manage or oversee the prime contractor on its over-budget, behind-schedule... Read More

VA Senators Author Amendment to Stop JFCOM Closure

September 27, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

Democratic Virginia Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner said today they will introduce an amendment to the FY2012 defense authorization... Read More

Gates Mandates Affordability in Defense Spending

September 14, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

 Defense Secretary Robert Gates yesterday unveiled details of his effort to overhaul procurement processes, just ahead of Senate markups... Read More

New Report Urges Comprehensive Security Spending

August 11, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

A bipartisan group of national security experts including Taxpayers for Common Sense today released a report calling for a budget that... Read More

TCS on Gates Defense Reforms: One Small Step Forward

August 10, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ new belt-tightening initiatives at the Department of Defense are a positive step forward. But much more... Read More

FutureGen: Massive Clean Coal Project Changes Track, Still Securing $1 Billion Earmarked in the Stimulus

August 04, 2010 | Our Take | Earmarks & Appropriations , Energy

Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the plan to build “FutureGen” a massive commercial “clean coal” facility in Mattoon,... Read More

House Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Mark-Up Delayed

June 23, 2010 | Our Take | Energy

Today the House Committee on Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee was scheduled to hold the first mark-up on a Fiscal Year... Read More

Faulty Virtual Fence Could Cost Taxpayers $8 Billion

June 20, 2010 | Event Summary | National Security

A recent hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee on SBInet, Boeing’s borderland “virtual fence” that has failed to function... Read More

New Report Urges Pentagon Role in Deficit Reduction

June 10, 2010 | National Security

Today, the Sustainable Defense Task Force held a press conference at the Capitol Visitors Center releasing a report identifying roughly $1 trillion in Pentagon budget savings over the next ten years. ... Read More

TCS President Ryan Alexander Op-Ed: Why two jets are not better than one (Politico)

May 25, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

 Today, President Ryan Alexander issued an Op-Ed to Politico.com regarding the recent $485 million alternate engine addition by the House... Read More

DOD Audit Still Nowhere in Sight

May 09, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

The Defense Department yesterday turned over to Congress an update on its attempts to pass an audit. Though Congress mandated audits back... 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

TCS Supports New OMB Contracting Guidance

March 31, 2010 | Statements | National Security

The White House took an important step this week toward rolling back one of the most pernicious pieces of contracting law on the federal... Read More

Gates: Defense Cuts Saved Taxpayers $330 Billion

March 23, 2010 | Our Take | National Security

Eliminating wasteful defense programs like the F-22 Raptor last year saved taxpayers $330 billion, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said... Read More

TCS Statement on SBInet’s Funding Freeze

March 19, 2010 | Statements | National Security

Below is a comment from TCS President Ms. Ryan Alexander on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s announcement that she will... Read More

FY11 Budget Cuts Agriculture Waste

February 10, 2010 | Our Take | Agriculture , Earmarks & Appropriations

The President’s proposed FY2011 Department of Agriculture (USDA) budget is $25.8 billion, slightly reduced from the FY2010 level of $26.9... Read More

FY2011 Budget Request: President Terminates Yucca Mountain, Increases Funding for Other Nuclear Projects

February 01, 2010 | Our Take | Energy

The President’s budget ends funding for the Yucca Mountain project, which was intended to be a permanent nuclear waste disposal site.... Read More

Troop Surge Dollars Must be Watched

December 03, 2009 | Our Take | National Security

Since President Obama announced a 30,000 troop buildup for Afghanistan Tuesday, everyone is asking the inevitable question: How much is... Read More

Dollars Fly Overseas to Military Bases

November 12, 2009 | Our Take | National Security

The annual military construction spending bill is not generally a big deal for Congress, which treats it as an opportunity to fund gyms... 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

DOE Halts Plan for Commercial Reprocessing: Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Shelved

July 27, 2009 | Our Take | Energy

The Obama Administration has put the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) on hold until further notice. GNEP, an international... Read More

Contracts for Synthetic Fuels not Included in Senate Defense Bill

July 23, 2009 | Our Take | Energy

Late last night the Senate completed their work on the Defense Authorization bill, S. 1390.  The bill passed with an overwhelming... 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

Hearing on Alaska Native Corporations Probes Wasteful Spending

July 21, 2009 | Our Take | National Security

A July 16 hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight on federal procurement... Read More

UPDATE: Senate Strips F-22s From Defense Authorization Bill

July 20, 2009 | Letters & Testimony | National Security

(July 21) The Senate today took a small step for Pentagon reform and a giant step for fiscal sanity when it voted 58-40 to approve the... Read More

House Appropriators Reject Weapons Cuts

July 15, 2009 | Our Take | National Security

The House Defense Appropriations Subcommitte today set the tone for the upcoming debate over Congresses’ biggest spending bill. Following... Read More

TCS Holds Congressional Briefing on Defense Spending

July 14, 2009 | Event Summary | National Security

Taxpayers for Common Sense sponsored a briefing for House of Representatives members and staffers Wednesday, July 15, titled Defense... Read More

TCS and NTU to House: Don’t Fund F-22

July 14, 2009 | Letters & Testimony | National Security

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense and the National Taxpayers Union sent a joint letter to all members of the House of Representatives... Read More

Oversight and Government Reform Hearing on the V-22 Osprey

June 25, 2009 | Event Summary | National Security

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing Tuesday on the future of the V-22 Osprey, an aircraft with a... 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

Senate Energy Committee Passes American Clean Energy Leadership Act

June 16, 2009 | Our Take | Energy

Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources completed work on the American Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA), passing... Read More

Nuclear Weapons: Transformation or Business As Usual?

June 04, 2009 | Our Take | National Security

Two Senate hearings on nuclear weapons this week showed that the Obama administration’s charge toward a smaller—and hopefully... 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

Knik Arm Crossing Gets Another Cost Estimate

February 11, 2009 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

An independent cost estimate puts the price tag for the Knik Arm Crossing—a.k.a. Don Young’s Way—in Anchorage, Alaska at $686 million... 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

National Geographic To Air Government-Funded Homeland Security Special

January 28, 2009 | Our Take | National Security

A friend of Taxpayers for Common Sense in Maine just alerted us to something very interesting. Tonight, National Geographic is going to... 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

Stimulus Adds to Stratospheric Satellite Costs

January 23, 2009 | National Security

Despite energetic lobbying by the defense industry (and some lawmakers) the $825 billion stimulus bill now emerging from committee... 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

Stimulus Not Needed for Department of Defense

January 06, 2009 | Our Take | National Security

Of all the industries in line for a handout in this financially frightening time, the defense industry would seem to bring up the rear.... 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

New Reports Document Wasteful War Spending

December 16, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

Just in time for a new war funding request to hit Capitol Hill, a trio of recently released documents recall just how badly the Pentagon... Read More

What $24 Million Gets These Days

December 15, 2008 | Our Take | Earmarks & Appropriations

The controversial National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), located in a former department store in the congressional district of Rep.... 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

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

The Non-Oversight Cannon

November 10, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

Last week we told you about a congressman’s efforts to feed the already overstuffed Army modernization program called Future Combat... 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

Gates: New Nukes Are Good For You and Cheaper Too

October 28, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates fired a preemptive strike against potential cuts to the U.S. nuclear weapons program this week by... 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

Stevens Trial: Senator Takes Stand in Own Defense

October 16, 2008 | Press Releases | Earmarks & Appropriations

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), on trial for failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars of gifts from Veco Corporation and its former... Read More

DHS Needs to Slow Down, Rethink Fencing Future

September 11, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

The Department of Homeland Security blames its doubled cost estimates for the border fence on pricey fuel, labor and materials. But it’s... Read More

GAO: Border Costs Climbing the Fence

September 09, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

Federal watchdogs confirmed our suspicions today when they revealed that the cost of building a 600+ mile fence along our southern border... 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

CBO: $85 Billion for Iraq Contractors

August 11, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

The Congressional Budget Office today released a report providing some of the most comprehensive estimates we’ve seen to date on the... Read More

Los Alamos’ Insecurity Complex

July 15, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

Though two of the nation’s largest nuclear labs are no doubt sad to see their patron Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) depart Congress, the... Read More

Marines Advertising on Hummers

July 14, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

Anyone who has a TV knows the military spends tons of money for recruiting prospective troops into the services. Recently, while watching... Read More

End of a Nuclear Era

July 10, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

Nuclear weapons labs and the Senator who loves them closed a chapter yesterday when the Senate cut funding for a controversial program to... Read More

Joint Letter to the President on Suspension of Ethanol Tariff

July 01, 2008 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture

TCS joined other groups in a letter to President George W. Bush on suspension of the ethanol tariff. ... Read More

GAO Finds Funny Fence Numbers at DHS

June 30, 2008 | Our Take | National Security

At last, the Department of Homeland Security has given us some idea of what its border fence is going to cost—and it looks like a... Read More

Independent Audit Ordered for Bridge to Nowhere

June 22, 2008 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

The Anchorage Daily News reports today that the state of Alaska will ask for an independent cost estimate of the Knik Arm bridge.  This... 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

Veto – Channeling Ike on WRDA

November 02, 2007 | Our Take | Transportation & Infrastructure

It’s a Friday afternoon, but I thought you might be interested in another veto statement from a few years back. The WRDA bill was called... Read More

TCS Requests Ethics Investigation of Coconut Road Earmark

September 26, 2007 | Letters & Testimony | Earmarks & Appropriations

The Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Chairwoman The Honorable Doc Hastings, Ranking Member House Committee on Standards of Official... Read More

Testimony - Federal Crop Insurance Program

May 03, 2007 | Letters & Testimony | Agriculture

(Download a pdf of this testimony)   Testimony of Steve Ellis Vice President,... Read More

Time to Learn the Hard Lessons from Hurricane Katrina: Support Real Fiscal Reforms in Water Resources Development Act

September 20, 2006 | Letters & Testimony | Earmarks & Appropriations , Transportation & Infrastructure

Dear Member of Congress: For many years, our organizations have examined the standard operating practices of the Corps of Engineers and... Read More

North Shore Road

January 12, 2006 | Transportation & Infrastructure

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Swain County), North Carolina Projected Cost to Federal Taxpayers: $604 million January 12,... Read More

TCS Applauds the Elimination of the Alaska Bridges to Nowhere

November 16, 2005 | Statements | Earmarks & Appropriations , Transportation & Infrastructure

Washington, D.C. – The following is a written statement from Jill Lancelot, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense: The conferees on... Read More

Senate Passes Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

June 30, 2005 | Statements | Energy , Transportation & Infrastructure

The following is a written statement from Steve Ellis, Vice President for Programs at Taxpayers for Common Sense on the Senate passage 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

Bulldozed: How Taxpayers Get Leveled by Highway Pork

Despite the call on Capitol Hill for fiscal belt tightening to deal with record deficits, the House has shown an unprecedented hunger for... 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

Army Corps of Engineers Reform and Community Relations Improvement Act of 2001

June 26, 2001 | Statements | Energy , Transportation & Infrastructure

Washington, DC -- Taxpayers for Common Sense would like to applaud Congressman Tancredo for his leadership and defense of taxpayers in... 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