Greater Ambulance Flexibility Can Save Lives and Dollars Ross Marchand on February 27, 2019





This article originally appeared in Catalyst on February 25, 2019.



When a patient finds themselves in the back of an ambulance, there’s little question of the final destination. While emergency rooms (ERs) are ideal for potentially-fatal ailments such as heart attacks and gunshot wounds, the over-reliance on ERs for more minor issues diverts key dollars and personnel away from where they are needed. According to an IBM Watson study, nearly a quarter » Read More

Taxpayer Group Releases Philadelphia Waste Report David Williams on February 26, 2019





WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) released a report highlighting the waste and rampant abuse of taxpayer dollars by the City of Philadelphia. TPA identified a total of $278.9 million that could be better spent by city leadership. These recommendations provide the city a way to restore its fiscal and ethical credibility. » Read More

Tax season jammed up by shutdown, and Postal Service doesn't help Ross Marchand on February 25, 2019





This article originally appeared on Fox Business on February 21, 2019.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is struggling mightily to keep its head above water in the current tax season and recent developments have done little to increase trust with taxpayers. A scathing report by the National Taxpayer Advocate describes a backlog of 5 million unsorted mail pieces, as few were on call to sort mail received during the federal shutdown. Taxpayers will likely swarm the phone lines as April draws closer, since an astounding 93.3 percent of callers trying to pay over the phone during the shutdown were unable to contact a live agent. But there remains a bright spot throughout this entire frustrating process: e-filing. » Read More

Watchdog Group Praises First Step in Postal Reform David Williams on February 22, 2019





WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) praised the United States Postal Service (USPS) for reigning in the costly, misguided stamp reselling program. In TPA’s report last month calling for USPS reform, the watchdog group identified $3.3 billion in annual savings that Postal leadership could implement without Congress getting involved. » Read More

Gene Replacement Can be the Cure that Patients—and Taxpayers—Have Been Looking For Ross Marchand on February 21, 2019





This article originally appeared in the Catalyst on February 15, 2019.



“Preventative medicine” is a great idea, except for the small caveat that the concept has saved few lives at a substantial cost. For example, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Tufts–New England Medical Center, screening all 65-year-olds for diabetes (as opposed to screening only 65-year-olds with hypertension for diabetes) costs hundreds of thousands of dollars for each year of life saved. But what if a one-time shot early in life could prevent diseases such as diabetes altogether, saving countless lives and health care dollars? Fortunately, a new line of treatment—gene replacement therapy—offers the game-changing benefits to patients that doctors could only dream of a decade ago. And, this new technology could save taxpayers billions of dollars. » Read More

The Regulators You've Never Heard of Who Are Raising Prices at the Pump Ross Marchand on February 20, 2019





This article originally appeared in RealClearPolicy on February 14, 2019.



When the news reports on international organizations, big players such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization usually hog all of the headlines. But that may all change by the beginning of next year when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) — an organization most Americans have never heard of — implements revised fuel standards for ships. While this may sound far removed from Americans without direct ties from the maritime industry, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects ripple effects on oil prices writ large with significant negative consequences for all Americans. » Read More

Keep US Economy Booming by Bolstering Intellectual Property Ross Marchand on February 15, 2019





Too often, lawmakers drum up discussion about "innovation" just to talk about their favorite pet projects to be paid for by taxpayers. Members of Congress seldom mention how important Intellectual Property (IP) rights are to fueling innovations that benefit customers and taxpayers. But thanks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 2019 International IP Index, IP is finally getting the credit it deserves for growth and prosperity. » Read More

Australia Experience Shows Devastating Effect of Carbon Tax Tim Andrews on February 14, 2019





This article originally appeared on Townhall.com on February 14, 2019.



Every year, the American public hears new proposals for a tax on carbon dioxide, peddled via fear-mongering and “Chicken Little” style climate predictions. With even some “conservative” and “free-market” groups arguing that a carbon tax is necessary, it is important to understand the devastating effects that these policies have had on taxpayers and consumers in countries that already have carbon taxes. » Read More

Victory for Taxpayers in Decorah, Iowa Chip Baltimore on February 13, 2019





The Decorah Communications Utility Board (“CUB”) met on Monday, February 11, 2019, to discuss the preliminary results of the second and most recent feasibility study to create a government owned (taxpayer-funded) broadband network (GON). While the second formal, printed report was not yet completed by the consultant, the consultant’s conclusion that the proposed city-wide FTTH GON was not financially viable. » Read More

Smokeless Tobacco Can Save Lives, But Only if Smokers Have All the Facts Ross Marchand and Jeff Stier on February 12, 2019





This article originally appeared on RealClearPolicy on February 1, 2019.



When products have the potential to save millions of lives, it's helpful if people are told about those benefits. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can do just that as it considers allowing manufacturers of non-combustible tobacco products to notify smokers that completely switching from cigarettes to smokeless tobacco products can save lives. To make smokers aware of the health benefits of quitting smoking by switching to lower-risk non-combustible products, Copenhagen Snuff manufacturer U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is among a number of companies asking the FDA for permission to print the following label on their products: "IF YOU SMOKE CONSIDER THIS: Switching completely to this product from cigarettes reduces risk of lung cancer." The FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee will hold two days of hearings on the issue in February. » Read More

H.R. 1 is Dangerous for Democracy Ross Marchand on February 8, 2019





This article originally appeared on Townhall.com on January 30, 2019.



Now that the shutdown is over (for now), it’s time for Congress to get to governing. Unfortunately, lawmakers seem to prefer red herrings and faux populist outrage to tackling the most pressing issues of the day. Case in point: H.R. 1, otherwise known as “For The People Act.” Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), this political “reform” legislation uses the boogeymen of “dark money” and foreign influence to curtail First Amendment protections and eviscerate donor privacy. Instead of misguided restrictions on cherished freedoms, Congress should move toward genuine campaign finance reforms that allow parties to hold interest groups in check. » Read More

End of Net Neutrality Brings Booming Broadband Growth Johnny Kampis on February 7, 2019





This article originally appeared in Real Clear Policy on January 21, 2019.



A recent report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shows that the removal of Title II regulations — or net neutrality — in 2017 helped boost the growth of broadband and close the digital divide. In what FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called "a stunning drop," the number of Americans lacking access to fixed terrestrial broadband service of 100 megabits per second download and 10 Mbps upload plummeted 56 percent — from 78.9 million to 34.8 million. » Read More

TPA Grades President Trump on his State of the Union Address Ross Marchand on February 5, 2019





WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) reacted to President Trump’s second State of the Union address, grading the executive on a number of key issues discussed. TPA President David Williams noted that, “it was unfortunate that President Trump failed to mention the $1 trillion deficit or the $22 trillion debt, or possible ways to cut spending.” » Read More

Genetics-Based Medicine can Save Millions of Lives and Billions of Dollars Ross Marchand on February 5, 2019





This article originally appeared in the Catalyst on January 31, 2019.



Anyone who has had a bacterial infection can attest to the misery of being bedridden and the frustration of taking medications that sometimes do not work. Why some drugs work and some don’t has been a mystery since the advent of modern medicine a century ago, but new advances in medical research show strong links between genetic variation and drug responses. » Read More

Watchdog Report Paves Way for Postal Service Reform Ross Marchand on February 4, 2019





This article originally appeared in Townhall on January 31, 2019.



On January 27, the United States Postal Service (USPS) hiked up the price of First-Class Forever stamps from 50 to 55 cents, the largest percentage increase in stamp prices since the Civil War. Postal leadership hopes that these increases will help mask historic net losses - most recently, $3.9 billion in fiscal year 2018. The USPS insists that their gargantuan financial issues were caused by Congress, specifically a mandate passed in 2006 that required the agency to set aside money ahead of time for workers’ retirement obligations. » Read More

Atlanta Provides Super Subsidies to NFL Johnny Kampis on February 1, 2019





This article originally appeared in the American Spectator on January 30, 2019.



When Super Bowl LIII takes places in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday it will occur — stop us if you’ve heard this one before — in the house that taxpayers built. In an ever-growing race to offer bigger subsidies to owners of professional sports franchises, Georgia taxpayers forked over nearly $700 million of the $1.5 billion it cost to build the replacement for the “ancient” two-decade-old Georgia Dome. The amount of money that is handed out to National Football League (NFL) teams is so large that Atlanta isn’t even the biggest beneficiary of taxpayer handouts. That mantle belongs to the Raiders, to whom Las Vegas and Clark County are guaranteeing $750 million in taxpayer money for the $1.9 billion Las Vegas Stadium, the most expensive of its kind. It’s scheduled to open in 2020. » Read More

Watchdog Group Releases Report Calling for Postal Reform Ross Marchand on January 31, 2019





WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) released a report calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the United States Postal Service (USPS). In the report, TPA identifies more than $3.3 billion in common sense savings that the agency can achieve without relying on Congressional reforms and/or taxpayer-funded bailouts. The report’s release comes shortly after the USPS raised the price of First Class stamps from 50 cents to 55 cents, the largest percentage increase since the Civil War. » Read More