By Andy Blom, TES Washington Editor
New Year. New Hope. New opportunities. 12 months from now we’ll have endured a Presidential campaign, mudslinging, chicanery and all kinds of other nonsense and be awaiting the inauguration of a new, or repeat, and in either case OLD President. Unless the New Year is full of surprises and we have somehow someone other than the two aged poll- leading candidates. As we wait to see if the frozen voters of Iowa throw a wrench into the works, here’s what other Center/Right folks in Washington have been doing…
One More Reason to Worry About the IRS. American for Tax Reform (ATR) revealed a new reason to not trust the Internal Revenue Service. It’s a program called “Bring Your Own Device” and it allows IRS agents to use their own personal computers to access, process, transmit and store taxpayer information. That means your personal financial information is on some guy or girl’s devise to be easily hacked, stolen, or simply captured in a screen shot. ATR has the details here. Read it and worry.
They’ve Been Bad. Let’s Give Them More Power? They are the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) and are being accused of harassment, discrimination and a toxic workplace. Yet in virtually the same breath that Congress is calling for an investigation, they’re planning to give them more power. Make sense? Of course not, it’s Washington. But it’s also your money these people use. Find out more from CEI (The Competitive Enterprise Institute).
Crypto Mining is a Carbon Problem? Tax It. Let’s get this straight…we’re going to save the planet by levying a special 30% tax on the electricity used to mine crypto currency? Because that electricity is somehow more toxic to the environment than the electricity used to run Electric Vehicles? Or has the Biden Administration simply never met a tax it doesn’t like. CEI has the goods on this latest overreach of Biden’s latest “whole of Government” tax and regulatory agenda. Watch out, taxing the electricity you use to watch Fox News will be next.
R Street is Down on the Farm, and We’re Thankful. Know much about agricultural policy? Neither do we. But R Street is here to help with a trio of stories that will leave you informed and maybe hopeful or mad. The Shaky Foundations of Modern Farm Policy gives important background on how we got where we are and how it fits today’s farm issues. The Unbridled Potential of the Future Farm Economy shows where there is room for improvement and hope for the future. And Environmental Benefits of Crop Insurance Reform discusses how the flaws in the crop insurance program could be changed to create better sustainability and environmental impact. Forgive us for this, but this is worth plowing through.
And This One’s a Bitter Pill…Sugar Costs Too Much. All that time down on the farm has made R Street very crop aware. That’s why they are so upset about a “free” sugar program that causes Americans to pay much more for the sweetener than most of the rest of the world. Leaves a sour taste in our mouth.
It’s a Vicious Circle. We Give Money to the Government (Taxes). The Government Gives Money to the IRS. The IRS (Union) Then Gives Money to the Government (Democrat Candidates) Joe Biden and the Congressional Democrats pushed through legislation that gave $80 billion to the IRS to increase its size and power. Are you then surprised that the IRS Union gave 97% of its 2023 PAC donations to Democrats? ATR has the story. It’s you scratch my wallet, I’ll scratch yours…with our tax money.
Conservative Seniors Have a Powerful Voice: AMAC. If you’re a senior citizen concerned about the policies supported by AARP (and their purported masters at United Healthcare), it’s time you learned about AMAC – The Association of Mature American Citizens. Mark Hemingway at The Federalist takes a look at the AARP drift to the left and the growing power of AMAC as a powerful voice for “seasoned” Americans.
It’s That Time Again: Meet the Candidates. These are posted as ‘get acquainted’ information, not endorsements. But some of these people may be involved in important decision involving your future, your money, your livelihood, your family, heck, the whole ball of wax. So check out these next potential congress people: Ted Harvey (Republican running for US House District 4 in Colorado); David Flippo (Republican running for US House District 4 in Nevada): Elizabeth Helgelien (Republican running for US House District 3 in Nevada). May the best man, or women, or other win.
So we’re off, with fingers crossed. Maybe it will be a great year. We’ll keep you posted.
TES Editor Andresen Blom is a Washington based policy and political analyst and author who has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, and Politico, et.al.