Membership Update
April 30, 2009
by: Martin Rundle

Government WasteWatch, Spring 2009

CAGW Members Speak Out

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) members voiced their opinions loud and clear on federal spending, earmarks, and goals for CAGW in the New Year in the 2009 CAGW Member’s Only National Survey.  Not surprisingly, 96 percent of CAGW members want the organization to continue to research and publicize a comprehensive list of cuts in wasteful spending in the federal budget.  More than 91 percent of members called on CAGW to wage an all-out battle to stop Congress’ and the President’s proposed 33 percent increase in the tax rates on dividends and capital gains and the 25 percent increase in the corporate income tax.  Eighty-seven percent of members characterized President Obama’s promised $1.3 trillion in tax cuts or rebates to middle- and lower-income Americans, many of whom do not pay federal income taxes, as a massive giveaway.  In addition, 49 percent of those responding said the economy is the biggest issue facing our country; 41 percent felt the most important issue is weak border and immigration controls; and the third most important issue according to nearly 35 percent of respondents is the skyrocketing deficit.  Finally, 86 percent of CAGW members said that they do not support any of the tax plans voiced by President Obama during the election campaign, such as a tax increase on upper income Americans, a new 7 percent payroll tax to pay for national healthcare, or an increase in the death tax.

Membership in Action

Petitioning your elected representatives is a fundamental right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and CAGW’s website offers our members a unique opportunity to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill.  CAGW’s Action Alerts allow taxpayers to send e-mails directly to their members of Congress, voicing opposition or support on the important issues facing our nation. 

Under the auspices of our affiliated lobbying organization, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), our nearly 100,000 online members have generated:  

• more than 70,000 e-mails to Congress opposing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act;
• more than 62,000 e-mails to Congress opposing the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Resolution; and,
• more than 49,000 e-mails to the Senate opposing the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

In addition to Taxpayer Action Alerts, CAGW members receive our free monthly online newsletter, “E-News from CAGW,” which updates them on CAGW’s latest work and media appearances.  To sign up for Taxpayer Action Alerts and “E-News from CAGW” please visit www.cagw.org today!
       
Taxpayer News Wire

January 24 – Newly-minted Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is named CAGW’s January 2009 Porker of the Month.  As a member of Congress from Illinois between 1995 and 2007, then-Rep. LaHood made the most of his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, securing 52 earmarks totaling $58.9 million in Fiscal Year 2008 alone.  In his new position, Secretary LaHood will preside over the distribution of tens of billions of tax dollars for transportation projects in the stimulus package, as well as be involved in the 2010 transportation reauthorization bill– always a popular piece of legislation for pork amongst members of Congress. 

January 28 – In conjunction with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, CAGW released the inaugural 2009 Hawaii Pork Report: The Book Hawaii’s Government Doesn’t Want You To Read at a press conference in Honolulu.  Among the millions in waste documented in the report include, $2,400,000 for substitute custodians in public schools and $875,000 to reconstruct a hiking trail that is now barred from public access.  A copy of the report is available at www.cagw.org.

February 12 – CCAGW and the National Taxpayers Union held a joint press conference voicing opposition to the $787 billion economic recovery bill.

February 18 – Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is named CAGW’s February 2009 Porker of the Month.  Despite his support of the $787 billion stimulus package, Sen. Kerry decried tax cut provisions in the legislation, claiming on the floor of the Senate that “government – yes government” is better suited at making investments in the economy.     

March 11 – In conjunction with the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, CAGW released the 2009 Ohio Piglet Book: The Book Ohio’s Government Doesn’t Want You To Read at a press conference at the Ohio statehouse.  At the press conference, Ohio state Rep. Kris Jordan (R - 2nd District), along with nine other members of the Ohio General Assembly, introduced legislation to create a State Government Efficiency Commission, more commonly referred to as the Ohio Grace Commission.  A copy of the report is available at www.cagw.org.

March 17 – House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is named CAGW’s March 2009 Porker of the Month.  Despite expressing public umbrage over the distribution of $165 million in retention bonuses to insurance giant AIG executives, Chairman Frank has been instrumental in getting $12 million in federal bailout funds for troubled OneUnited Bank in Boston, and has been a staunch defender of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which has been provided a $200 billion lifeline from the federal government and is now almost entirely owned by the taxpayers.