Taxpayers for Common Sense

The federal oil & gas leasing system has failed American taxpayers. Overlooked policies have let oil and gas companies abandon their wells & pass mounting financial liabilities onto taxpayers. Recent bonding reform changes that.

Federal Oil & Gas Leasing Reforms Protect American Taxpayers - Taxpayers for Common Sense For decades, American taxpayers have lost out due to an unfair oil and gas leasing system. Outdated leasing processes and below-market fees failed to provide a fair return to taxpayers, instead burdening us with growing financial liabilities.

Last year, federal taxpayers spent $4,395,000,000 on wildfire suppression, more than half of which came from the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund. More on this fund and what it means for taxpayers here:

Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund - Taxpayers for Common Sense The Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund, also known as the wildfire fix, provides additional federal funds for urgent wildfire suppression activities.

The oil and gas industry has modernized over the last century, and so should our policies. The Bureau of Land Management 's recent rule ensures a fair return for taxpayers and protects us from the high costs of abandoned well cleanup. Learn more here:

Federal Oil & Gas Leasing Reforms Protect American Taxpayers - Taxpayers for Common Sense For decades, American taxpayers have lost out due to an unfair oil and gas leasing system. Outdated leasing processes and below-market fees failed to provide a fair return to taxpayers, instead burdening us with growing financial liabilities.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are 91 large fires currently being suppressed across the country. As wildfires burn hotter and more frequently due to climate change, ensuring effective and efficient spending is imperative for taxpayers and communities.

Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund - Taxpayers for Common Sense The Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund, also known as the wildfire fix, provides additional federal funds for urgent wildfire suppression activities.

to 10 years ago when the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed what TCS had been saying for years – the costs of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a federal mandate that biofuels be blended with transportation fuel, outweigh its benefits. So why is the RFS still around?

GAO Report: Renewable Fuel Standard Costs Outweigh Benefits | Taxpayers for Common Sense Taxpayers for Common Sense is an independent and non-partisan voice for taxpayers working to increase transparency and expose and eliminate wasteful and corrupt subsidies, earmarks, and corporate welfare.

A new TCS report examines Pentagon plans for the 6th-gen fighter, which could cost $300,000,000 per plane, & calls on Congress to pump the brakes.

Trouble on the Horizon: Pitfalls of the Sixth-Generation Fighter Aircraft - Taxpayers for Common Sense The Pentagon must learn from the mistakes of the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which has faced calamitous cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance problems.

Washington wastes billions of taxpayer dollars annually on inefficient & outdated agriculture policies. TCS advocates for federal policies that address the realities of 21st-century agriculture and promote resilience instead of dependence on taxpayer subsidies.

Agriculture Archives - Taxpayers for Common Sense TCS monitors, researches, and analyzes the cost-effectiveness of the current 20 billion dollar agribusiness welfare programs.

It is essential that taxpayer money is spent wisely & efficiently. The Green Scissors coalition calls on the IRS to implement key taxpayer safeguards for the 45Q Carbon Oxide Sequestration tax credit.

Green Scissors Urges the Treasury to Implement Oversight and Transparency Measures for the 45Q Carbon Capture Tax Credit - Green Scissors The Green Scissors coalition of taxpayer and environmental advocates sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging the agency to implement key taxpayer safeguards for the 45Q tax credit. 45Q Carbon Oxide Sequestration Credit, a tax credit for every ton of carbon captured and stored, was...

NEW: TCS Report calls on Congress to pause funding for the 6th-gen fighter & assess alternatives. Congress must insert itself early on in the process if it hopes to avoid repeating the failures of the calamitous F-35 program.

Trouble on the Horizon: Pitfalls of the Sixth-Generation Fighter Aircraft - Taxpayers for Common Sense The Pentagon must learn from the mistakes of the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which has faced calamitous cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance problems.

We are all for incentives that help ratchet down long-term climate liabilities. But potential pitfalls in the implementation of the Clean Electricity Production (PTC) & Clean Electricity Investment (ITC) tax credits might undermine efforts to reduce emissions

Keep Clean Energy Tax Credits Clean - Taxpayers for Common Sense If implemented without clear rules and oversight, these tax credits might be subject to fraud and abuse.

TCS report on carbon capture and storage (CCS) subsidies at every step of the way – from R&D, construction, to operation. The flurry of subsidies will cost taxpayers—$12B in R&D, $30B+ in expanded tax credits, and $300B in potential loan guarantees.

From Cradle to Grave: Taxpayer Subsidies Throughout a Carbon Capture and Storage Project’s Lifecycle - Taxpayers for Common Sense For decades, the federal government has provided billions of dollars in subsidies to support CCS technology and projects.

Without increased oversight, the 45Q tax credit for CCS could lead to fraud & abuse of taxpayer dollars w/o providing real climate benefits. The Green Scissors coalition urges the IRS to better protect taxpayers:

Green Scissors Urges the Treasury to Implement Oversight and Transparency Measures for the 45Q Carbon Capture Tax Credit - Green Scissors The Green Scissors coalition of taxpayer and environmental advocates sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging the agency to implement key taxpayer safeguards for the 45Q tax credit. 45Q Carbon Oxide Sequestration Credit, a tax credit for every ton of carbon captured and stored, was...

Using flawed greenhouse gas emissions assumptions could allow polluting energy sources to qualify for billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits. Clear rules & oversight of 45Y and 48E will protect taxpayers and benefit the climate.

Keep Clean Energy Tax Credits Clean - Taxpayers for Common Sense If implemented without clear rules and oversight, these tax credits might be subject to fraud and abuse.

Since January 1st, wildfires have burned 4,982,054 acres across the United States. As the frequency & intensity of wildfires have increased, so have the costs. Risk mitigation is an essential tool in preventing catastrophic damage & saving taxpayer dollars.

Recalibrate Mitigation vs Suppression Funding - Taxpayers for Common Sense

For 30yrs the Green Scissors coalition has worked to eliminate government spending that is economically wasteful & environmentally harmful. This week we called on the IRS to better protect taxpayers from fraud & abuse of the 45Q tax credit. Our letter:

Green Scissors Urges the Treasury to Implement Oversight and Transparency Measures for the 45Q Carbon Capture Tax Credit - Green Scissors The Green Scissors coalition of taxpayer and environmental advocates sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging the agency to implement key taxpayer safeguards for the 45Q tax credit. 45Q Carbon Oxide Sequestration Credit, a tax credit for every ton of carbon captured and stored, was...

JUST IN: TCS report highlighting how the carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry is subsidized from CRADLE to GRAVE, with the majority of these subsidies are going towards industries that emitted carbon in the first place.

From Cradle to Grave: Taxpayer Subsidies Throughout a Carbon Capture and Storage Project’s Lifecycle - Taxpayers for Common Sense For decades, the federal government has provided billions of dollars in subsidies to support CCS technology and projects.

The Clean Electricity Production (PTC) and Clean Electricity Investment (ITC) tax credits can help the U.S. meet our climate goals. But the devil is always in the details. If implemented wrong, we risk giving away billions to polluting energy sources.

Keep Clean Energy Tax Credits Clean - Taxpayers for Common Sense If implemented without clear rules and oversight, these tax credits might be subject to fraud and abuse.

JUST IN: The Green Scissors coalition of taxpayer, free market, consumer, & environmental advocates, Friends of the Earth U.S. , Taxpayers for Common Sense , R Street Institute , U.S. PIRG & Environment America , call on the IRS to implement key safeguards for the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Green Scissors Urges the Treasury to Implement Oversight and Transparency Measures for the 45Q Carbon Capture Tax Credit - Green Scissors The Green Scissors coalition of taxpayer and environmental advocates sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging the agency to implement key taxpayer safeguards for the 45Q tax credit. 45Q Carbon Oxide Sequestration Credit, a tax credit for every ton of carbon captured and stored, was...

As of Wednesday, August 7, FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), the primary source of federal funding for general disaster relief programs, is restricted to only "Immediate Needs Funding." The new restrictions (the 10th time since 2003) come as the DRF could run out of money in August.

TCS Infographic highlighting the flow of subsidies for the carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry. Contrary to what CCS proponents claim, the industry has been heavily subsidized for decades and is slated to receive even more.
https://www.taxpayer.net/energy-natural-resources/from-cradle-to-grave-taxpayer-subsidies-throughout-a-carbon-capture-and-storage-projects-lifecycle/

Yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management leased 4,819 acres of federal land in MT & ND for oil & gas development. Recent leasing reforms reflected in the auction will generate more revenue for state & federal taxpayers and better protect us from long-term liabilities.

Nearly 5,000 Acres Leased for Oil and Gas Development in Montana and North Dakota - Taxpayers for Common Sense In Montana, 3,292 acres of federal land, 81% of what was offered in the sale, were leased for oil and gas development at an avg bid of $1,978.57/acre.

Diplomacy & aid are chronically undervalued by the national security establishment, but forcing State & USAID to submit unfunded priority lists is not the answer. Instead, Congress should end requirements for these unbudgeted wish lists across the board.

Senators want to infect other agencies with 'unfunded' wish lists Expanding a controversial budgeting practice that is already being abused to hike military spending is folly

This morning, the Bureau of Land Management is auctioning 5,570 acres of federal land in Montana and North Dakota for oil & gas development. This is the 7th onshore lease sale held in 2024, with more than 30,000 acres leased earlier this year.

Tomorrow, the Bureau of Land Management will offer 5,570 acres of federal land in Montana & North Dakota for oil & gas development. Any parcels sold will be leased under recently updated terms that help ensure a fair return for taxpayers & protect us from the high costs of well cleanup

In Montana, old, outdated policies allowed millions of acres of land to be locked into nonproducing leases, costing taxpayers in lost revenue & keeping land from other uses. New reforms aim to prevent speculative leasing, among other benefits. https://www.taxpayer.net/energy-natural-resources/mounting-losses-ii/

In North Dakota, the 3rd largest producer of oil on federal lands, taxpayers lost out on millions from below-market fees. Had the new royalty rate been applied over the last 10yrs, taxpayers would have received an additional $819,000,000 in revenue. https://www.taxpayer.net/energy-natural-resources/no-deal-for-taxpayers-in-north-dakota/

Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Costs Montana Millions - Taxpayers for Common Sense Outdated and below-market federal rates have cost federal and Montana state taxpayers $123 million over the past decade.

Hurricane Debby made landfall at 7AM today in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast. According to NOAA expect: “MAJOR FLOODING OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS”

National Hurricane Center US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Hurricane Center 11691 SW 17th Street Miami, FL, 33165 [email protected]

Opportunities exist to improve cross-departmental tracking & accounting of federal wildfire spending. Developing wildfire budget crosscuts could illuminate and compare the activities of different agencies targeting the same goals. More here:

Transparency & Accountability in Wildfire Spending - Taxpayers for Common Sense There is no one-size-fits all policy solution, but this series of Taxpayer Tools to Tackle Wildfire highlight priorities that can help ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in solutions that protect people and property while also saving money.

TCS continues to track the suite of subsidies headed to carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). And this spending carries serious concerns for taxpayers & communities. Learn more from our own Steve Ellis & Dr Robert Bullard in The Hill:

Our carbon capture experiment is the antithesis of environmental justice This is an environmental and economic injustice that only serves the interests of the fossil fuel industry.