What's Happening in Transportation & Infrastructure

Congressional Summer Ends with a THUD

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...

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

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

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

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

Press Release: Report Shows Motorcoaches Should be Part of Transportation Mix

A new study by M.J. Bradley and Associates prepared for the American Bus Association Foundation, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and the Reason Foundation reveals lower consumer and taxpayer costs and reduced emissions associated with motorcoach travel as compared with Amtrak’s rail system. ...

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

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

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...

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."...

Small Taxpayer Victory: Outdated Airport Subsidy Reduced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...

Washington Post Slams Charlottesville Bypass

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

Not a Check, It’s a Bill

Federally subsidized crop insurance is on pace to cost at least $27 billion – 57 percent – more than was promised in the last farm bill...

Skagit River Bridge Collapse

As you have no doubt heard by now, an interstate bridge collapsed on a major travel corridor in Washington State. The bridge spans the...

Disaster Reforms for Resiliency

Over the past decade, extreme weather and storms have become increasingly commonplace – including coastal storms, wildfires, droughts,...

Letter to the Senate: Oppose Fiscally Irresponsible Amendments to S. 601,  Water Resources Development Act of 2013

This bill is irresponsible and we urge you to oppose it and amendments that will make the bill worse....

Water Waste: Cut Costly Provisions from Water Resources Development Act

The Senate WRDA bill is too costly to stand....

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

Charlottesville Bypass Not a Worthy Federal Investment

Recently, TCS was invited to Charlottesville, Virginia to speak with citizens and reporters about a project we have opposed since the...

Congress: Only Fund Emergency Needs in Sandy Supplemental

  January 11, 2012 Dear Representative, As you know, the House of...

President Ms. Ryan Alexander Sliding Past Sequestration Statement

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

TCS Statement Opposing Transportation Omnibus Bill

The following is a written statement of Ms. Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on H.R. 4348, the transportation...

Green Scissors 2012 Finds Environmentally Destructive Federal Programs

Left-Right coalition identifies practical steps Congress could take to slash deficits, save natural resources....

TCS Testifies before House Natural Resources Subcommittee

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

BETA - New TCS Digital Infrastructure

Our new website and digital toolkit is live in BETA testing....

House Passes Another Transportation Extension in Attempt to Get to Conference With Senate

The House today passed a 90-day extension of the nation’s federal transportation program (H.R. 4348) by a vote of 293-197. This...

Golden Fleece Awarded to Riverboat Ripoff

            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2012 CONTACTS: Steve Ellis, Taxpayers for...

TCS Statement on passage of ninth extension of the highway bill

For Immediate Release March 29, 2012 Contact: Steve Ellis (202) 546-8500 x126 Statement...

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

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

Ideologically diverse coalition sends letter to Congress: Stop the NAT GAS Act

Taxpayers for Common Sense Action joined an ideologically diverse coalition in a letter to the Senate urging them to oppose Amendment...

House Transportation Bill: The Current State of Play

Despite initial plans to move ahead with debate and of a transportation bill, political reality set in late yesterday and today for House...

President funds transportation with irresponsible ‘Peace Dividend’

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

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...

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

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

Letter: Oppose the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012

Taxpayers for Common Sense Action sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives as they consider H.R.7, the American Energy...

TCS’s Reaction to the House’s Most Recent Transportation Bill

Taxpayers for Common Sense today released the following in reaction to the House’s most recent transportation bill: The House today...

Senate Transportation Bill: Driving in the Wrong Direction

Senate leadership is busy patting themselves on the back in the wake of Senate Finance Committee approval of a slate of “pay-fors” to...

FAA Reauthorization: EAS reforms fail taxpayers

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

Speaker’s “Drilling for Transportation Dollars” Proposal: A Dead End for Taxpayers

[Updated 2/1/2012] The Natural Resources Committee today passed three energy-related bills today, and the royalties that would result...

FAA Reauthorization and the Essential Air Service: When a Cut is Actually an Increase

After 23 extensions, Congress is finally on the verge of reauthorizing the nation’s air program for the next four years. This would be...

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...

FAA Reauthorization Should Include EAS Reforms

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

Hill Briefing: Don’t Drill and Drive: Weakening the User-Pays Highway Funding Principle Would Endanger Our Nation’s Transportation Infrastructure

TCS Hill Briefing: Don’t Drill and Drive: Weakening the “User-Pays” Highway Funding Principle Would Endanger Our Nation’s Transportation...

Outline of House’s Transportation Reauthorization Revealed

An outline of the House majority’s new transportation reauthorization proposal — The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act — was...

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

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

House Transportation Reauthorization Postponed as Deadline Approaches

With the March 31, 2012 expiration of nation’s surface transportation legislation steadily approaching, House leaders informed...

TCS Testifies on Royalties before House Natural Resources Subcommittee

Ms. Ryan Alexander President Taxpayers for Common Sense   Written Testimony submitted to the...

Transportation Reauthorization: Congress Needs to Pay to Pave

Both the House and Senate are poised to begin deliberations over different versions of transportation reauthorization legislation. Though...

California’s Rail Project Costs More Than Double

According to a business plan released by the California High Speed Rail Authority this week, the costs for a high speed rail connection...

Deal May Increase Transportation Spending, But at What Cost?

Updated 9/28/2011 Reports of a meeting between House Republican leadership and Rep. John Mica (R-FL), Chair of the Transportation and...

Joint Letter in Support of Common Sense Flood Insurance Amendments

Taxpayers for Common Sense joined other groups in support of the two amendments Senator Hagan (D-NC) filed to the Flood Insurance Reform...

TCS Testifies on the Inland Waterways Trust Fund

Today, TCS Vice President Steve Ellis will be testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water...

The American Jobs Act: Concerns mount over President’s Infrastructure Bank proposal

On Tuesday, September 12th, the Obama Administration released the text of the “American Jobs Act” which includes $447 billion in tax...

House and Senate Craft Disappointing Extension of Surface Transportation, FAA Programs

After negotiations between majority leaders in the House and Senate, a bill was introduced that would extend the surface transportation...

Support FAA Extension, Reform the Essential Air Service

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

House Should Support Stronger Reforms to the Wasteful Essential Air Service

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

Analyzing the House Transportation Proposal

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

Taxpayers for Common Sense Supports Consideration of Stillwater Bridge Alternative

A coalition of local organizations released an alternative to the proposed $700 million Stillwater Bridge replacement. This alternative...

Anchorage Sues FHWA to Stop Knik Arm Crossing

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

TCS Letter to the Editor in St. Louis Post-Dispatch - “Solution to flood protection is not new earmarks”

Letters to the editor, June 14 Joshua Sewell • Washington, D.C. Policy Analyst, Taxpayers for Common Sense It is disappointing to...

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

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

Taxpayers for Common Sense on PBS Nightly Business Report commenting on the National Flood Insurance Program

Taxpayers for Common Sense on PBS Nightly Business Report: May 17, 2011 Taxpayers for Common Sense VP Steve Ellis commenting on the...

Coalition Letter Opposing Wasteful Mississippi River Locks

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....

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...

TCS Letter in Support of H.R. 1309, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011

Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, in support of H.R. 1309 the “Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011.”...

TCS Testimony on the National Flood Insurance Program

Today, Vice President Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense testified on behalf of the SmarterSafer Coalition at a House Financial...

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,...

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

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

A Transportation Earmark is Still an Earmark

Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) told a local newspaper this week that she supports a ban on earmarks – but then turned around and said that...

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....

TCS Event: Greening the Budget - A Transatlantic Dialogue on Making Environmental and Fiscal Responsibility a Priority

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

TCS testifies at a Senate Hearing on Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program

Today, TCS presented testimony to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on "Reauthorization of the National Flood...

Joint Letter in Opposition to H.R. 1264: The Multiple Peril Insurance Act of 2009

Taxpayers for Common Sense and National Taxpayers Union joined together in opposition to H.R. 1264 - The Multiple Peril Insurance Act of...

Letter to Chairman Oberstar: TCS Supports Efforts to Rescind Unused Transportation Earmarks

Chairman James Oberstar House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 2165 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC...

Alaska Adopts Sensible Policy on Transportation Earmarks

Earlier this week, our attention was pointed to a new earmark policy released by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public...

Still Fortifying Against Barge Company Bailouts

The IWTF was created to pay for construction and maintenance on much of the nation’s most used waterways. Funded by a tax on fuel used...

Taxpayers Oppose Barge Company Bailout

Taxpayers for Common Sense recently joined a number of other organizations in opposing attempts to further weaken cost-sharing...

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

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

Ensuring Taxpayer Losses

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

The Flap Over the Jobs Bill: Flawed Politics of the Past Would Continue to Distribute Funds in the Future

Earlier this week, the Senate passed its version of the jobs bill—a bill which is flawed from a transportation and taxpayer perspective. ...

TCS Letter in Opposition to Potentially Costly Water Bill

Today the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on  Water and Power held a hearing on H.R. 4225, a bill sponsored by Rep....

House Approves 3-Month Highway Bill Extension

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

TCS Thanks Representatives Jim McDermott and Tom Petri for Introduction of Fiscally Responsible Salmon Bill

Today Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Tom Petri (R- WI), along with 23 other cosponsors from across the country, introduced the...

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee: Hearing on Highway Trust Fund Insolvency

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discussed the looming insolvency of the highway trust fund today with Secretary of...

Hearing on the 2010 Dept. of Transportation Budget: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development

On June 4th, Rep. John Olver (D-MA) led the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and...

Corps of Engineers Releases Stimulus Project List

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

Members of Congress Voice Support for Cost-Effective Salmon Recovery

This week more than 70 Representatives sent a bipartisan letter to President Obama asking for his commitment to restoring Columbia and...

Knik Arm Crossing Gets Another Cost Estimate

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...

Highway Group Calls for Doubling of Transportation Spending

In case you missed it, the American Association of State and Highway Officials (AASHTO) earlier this week announced its proposal for a...

Highway Trust Fund Fix Hurts Taxpayers

The Senate yesterday approved an $8 billion transfer from the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) (the House passed the same measure...

TCS Requests Don Young Campaign Remove Misleading Ads

Recently it was brought to our attention that Alaskans for Don Young has been running radio ads claiming that Taxpayers for Common Sense...

Independent Audit Ordered for Bridge to Nowhere

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

Highway Trust Fund Being Driven to Bankruptcy

Last week, USA Today had a story about how the decline in miles traveled by America’s drivers, largely the result of historically high...

The Gas Tax Holiday:  Good Politics, Bad Policy

With the average price of a gallon of gasoline over $3.601 and diesel well over $4.002, it’s no surprise that political solutions to the...

Veto – Channeling Ike on WRDA

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...

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

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

North Shore Road

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

TCS Applauds the Elimination of the Alaska Bridges to Nowhere

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

Senate Passes Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

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

TCS Statement on House Passage of TEA-LU

Washington, D.C. - The following is a statement by Keith Ashdown, Vice President of Policy at Taxpayers for Common Sense on H.R. 3 -...

Missed Opportunity on Energy & Water Spending Bill; House Pads Corps Water Budget

The following is a prepared statement by Steve Ellis, Vice President at Taxpayers for Common Sense on the House Energy & Water...

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...

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

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

Statement on Defeat of the Auburn Dam for the Fifth Time in a Decade

Wasington, DC -- Last night Congress struck down the $2.5 Auburn Dam project for the fifth time in a decade through a major bi-partisan...

ISTEA Brewing Trouble

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

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...