As the year draws to a close and the nation’s deficit soars to $1.4 trillion, Congress’s spendthrift behavior persists. On December 16, 2009 President Obama signed a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill; $446.8 billion of that amount covered six of the seven remaining appropriations bill.
Time to End Stealth Tax Increases
Thirty-two states impose ad valorem excise taxes on moist smokeless tobacco (MST). An ad valorem tax is based on a percentage of the price of the product, so the tax rises any time the price of the merchandise increases. This is similar to property taxes that rise along with increased assessed values.
Jobs Numbers and White House Propaganda
One of the cornerstones of the stimulus bill was to create jobs and help the economy get back on its feet. The Obama administration estimated that between 3 and 4 million jobs would be created or saved once the bill was enacted.
Wasted Healthcare Dollars
As the national debt exceeds $12 trillion and the monthly deficit record of $176 billion was set in October, it would behoove officials in Washington to take reports of wasteful spending more seriously. This is especially true in regard to the tens of billions of dollars that are wasted each year in federal healthcare programs.
Amidst the Healthcare Hubbub, Cap-and-Trade Moves Ahead
While Congress and the American public remain fixated on the contentious healthcare debate, little attention has been paid to S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, better known as the Kerry-Boxer cap-and-trade bill. Democrats have used this distraction to their advantage, steadily pushing the onerous climate change legislation forward.
Healthcare: Everyone Gets a Deal and Taxpayers Get the Tab
No one questions that the nation’s healthcare system is troubled and needs to be fixed. Typically, Congress would propose legislation to fix the heart of the problem and then cut whatever side deals are needed to pass the legislation.
The Obama administration and congressional majority campaigned on a theme of changing the way Washington worked. Most voters assumed that meant negotiations on major legislation would be open and transparent. Unfortunately, there is less transparency than ever as final House and Senate healthcare bills are being crafted behind closed doors.
Congress Plans to Tap Medicare to Pay for Healthcare Reform
The Senate Finance Committee has reported out S. 1796, its version of a health care reform bill. This was preceded, and indeed made possible, by an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that the bill would increase federal government spending by only $829 billion in 2010-2019. With new taxes and reductions in projected spending in Medicare and Medicaid, CBO said this would actually result in a net saving to the federal budget of $81 billion over this period. The bill’s advocates greeted this estimate with relief, tinged with self-congratulation for having produced a bill that, in the current environment, was considered by them to be fiscally responsible.
Taxpayer Money Flying Out the Door
Even if many Americans don’t think that the stimulus package is working, there is still a desire to ensure that the money is being spent wisely rather than being thrown down a rat hole. But, the news that is trickling out from the states does not look good.
The 72 Hour Bill: A Struggle to Read Over the Shoulder of Congress
This summer’s tea parties and town hall meetings drew hundreds of thousands across the nation. Although there were many issues of concern including healthcare, cap-and-trade, and the general overspending problems in Washington, citizens were united by one common goal: to remind members of Congress that they work for the American people.
End Deficit Spending
With a turnout estimated at hundreds of thousands of people, the Taxpayer March in Washington, D.C. on September 12, 2009 demonstrated the public’s support for restraining government spending. In order to understand the motivation of the protesters, one only needs to look at the current fiscal condition of the country.