Coalition of Taxpayer Groups Rally at Statehouse

Coalition of Taxpayer Groups Rally at Statehouse

IRS Harassment of Tea Party Groups

"A defining aspect of the American tradition is that groups of citizens band together for a wide variety of civic purposes. They recruit volunteers, raise funds and spend those funds to promote whatever project or cause brings them together. "For more than a century, our tax laws have recognized that such voluntary associations -- non-profits, we call them today -- should not be taxed, because their proceeds are devoted entirely to improve our communities through education, advocacy, and civic action. Section 501 of the Internal Revenue code recognizes them today, and civic groups like Move-on-dot-org, the League of Conservation Voters, the ACLU, the National Rifle Association and various taxpayer groups have always been included in this definition." Excerpt from House floor remarks by Congressman Tom McClintock, April 17, 2012. Text link: mcclintock.house.gov

The Big Government Conspiracy: Q&A with Steve Malanga of the Manhattan Institute

Today's Tea Party movement germinated from local taxpayer groups focused on issues like school spending and property taxes, says Steve Malanga, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of the new book, Shakedown: The Continuing Conspiracy Against the American Taxpayer. Malanga's work focuses on how national trends often grow out of local ones. In his last book, The New New Left, he looked at how a coalition of public-sector unions and government-backed social activists came to control the machinery of local governments. In Shakedown, he shows how this group continued its march all the way to the White House. Reason.tv's June Arunga sat down with Malanga to talk about how this coalition has pushed government at all levels to the brink of bankruptcy and what reforms are needed to combat its vast influence. Approximately seven minutes. Shot byJim Epstein and Meredith Bragg. Edited by Josh Swain. Go to Reason.tv for download-able HD, iPod and audio versions of this video and subscribe to Reason.tv's Youtube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.

Bush Sounds Bail Out Alarm

Despite the machinations in congress there is an increasing popular uprising against the bailout. There are coalitions forming: on the right there are anti-Big Government and taxpayer groups, in the center are open government advocates and on the left there and progressive and labor groups. According to Politico, all of these groups have an important ally: public opinion, especially that of online activists. How will the public react to Bush's proposal? Check out the story at www.realpundits.com Related Stories Stand Against the Bail Out: realpundits.com Obama or McCain on the Economy? realpundits.com Hating on the Bail-Out: realpundits.com

Our Spirit Remains Unbroken

Tim Walberg is the principled, proven conservative in this race, with a record of taking on the big spenders in both parties. Tim has never voted for a tax increase, independent taxpayer groups have recognized him as a leader in the fight to cut wasteful spending, and he has been endorsed by FreedomWorks, the organizer of the Tax Day Tea Party Rally, because of his strong support of smaller government, more individual liberty and a greater respect for our constitution and founding principles.

Joe Pennacchio & Tom Kean: Shed Light on Spending with Transparency in Government Act

Pennacchio, Kean: Transparency Act Will Give Citizens a Tool for Better Government The Transparency in Government Act would create a user-friendly Web site to empower New Jersey citizens with the ability to ensure accountability for every state tax dollar. Senator Joe Pennacchio, R-District 26, the primary sponsor of the bill, is urging the state to create an easy-to-use site that displays the States annual revenues, expenditures and total debt as well as other current and historical information vital to monitoring government. Taxpayers have a right to know how the state is spending their money. Today, Trenton doesnt help them very much, Pennacchio said. The state can easily provide information in a user-friendly format that can be accessed from homes, libraries and businesses. New Jersey citizens are demanding that it do so. It is long past time that we listen to taxpayers who are demanding that Trenton be accountable. Garden State taxpayers get the bill for every expenditure made by the state. They deserve to know exactly where and how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent, said Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes. A number of states have already started to empower taxpayers to track their tax dollars virtually at a mouse click. In doing so they are not only providing greater accountability, but are also able to identify tangible savings and ...

Taxpayers protest on Tax Day

Members of area taxpayer groups rallied Tuesday to protest what they say is millionaires not paying their fair share in taxes. They want the government to approve Obama's Buffet Rule, which would tax people who earn $2 million 30 percent. One group protested outside Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick's office in Middletown. Fitzpatrick was in Washington, DC and not available for comment. www.phillyburbs.com

Grover Norquist Attacks "Statist" Democrats

Complete video at: fora.tv Author, lobbyist and President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist attacks the US Democratic Party for promoting policies he describes as "coercive," "statist," and unfair to taxpayers. This program was recorded as a part of Ron Paul's Campaign For Liberty: Rally for the Republic event, in Minneapolis, MN, on September 2, 2008. Complete FORA.tv coverage of the 2008 RNC: fora.tv ----- Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, speaks at Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty: Rally for the Republic. He rails against the Democrats for their continuing attempts to raise taxes and increase government influence. Mr. Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes at both the federal, state, and local levels. ATR organizes the TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE, which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all tax increases. To date, President George W. Bush, 193 House members, and 41 Senators have taken the pledge. On the state level, 7 governors and 1221 state legislators have taken the pledge.Mr. Norquist is author of the book Leave Us Alone -- Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives. The book is an optimistic look at how the conservative movement can and will grow during the next 25 years.

Taxes and the GOP - Grover Norquist

Complete video at: fora.tv Author, lobbyist and President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist criticizes elected Republicans who vote to raise taxes, arguing that opposition to tax increases are essential to maintaining the integrity of the Republican "brand." This program was recorded as a part of Ron Paul's Campaign For Liberty: Rally for the Republic event, in Minneapolis, MN, on September 2, 2008. Complete FORA.tv coverage of the 2008 RNC: fora.tv ----- Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, speaks at Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty: Rally for the Republic. He rails against the Democrats for their continuing attempts to raise taxes and increase government influence. Mr. Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes at both the federal, state, and local levels. ATR organizes the TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE, which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all tax increases. To date, President George W. Bush, 193 House members, and 41 Senators have taken the pledge. On the state level, 7 governors and 1221 state legislators have taken the pledge.Mr. Norquist is author of the book Leave Us Alone -- Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives. The book is an optimistic look at how the conservative movement can and will grow during the next 25 years.

The Republican "Leave-Us-Alone" Coalition - Grover Norquist

Complete video at: fora.tv Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist argues that the central unifying idea of the conservative movement is the belief that government should stay out of citizen's lives as much as possible. ----- On May 15th, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform discussed his new book, Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives, and entertained questions from an audience at the New America Foundation. Norquist began by analyzing the political landscape of American politics, dividing it into two inimically opposed coalitions: the "Takings Coalition," comprised of groups with a shared interest in feeding upon the earnings and wealth of others, and the "Leave Us Alone Coalition," composed of those with a common interest in keeping the government out of their lives. While the components of each coalition contain diverse viewpoints on many issues, all are motivated to cooperate and vote by shared interest in one area: the degree to which a government should interact with the social and financial autonomy of its citizens. The contrast between these two coalitions represents the ideological divide that will shape American domestic policy for the next several generations, according to Norquist. Their balance of power will decide the direction that American policy moves toward for the next generation. Norquist went on to identify the trends that would alter this balance in the future, including ...