“THE PORKER OF THE MONTH” UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER (R-OHIO)
SUBMITTED BY CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT WASTE
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has named Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) Porker of the Month for leading the effort to spend more taxpayer dollars on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) – the most expensive weapons system in U.S. history. The F-35 has been plagued with a myriad of problems since its inception. The program has been in development for 17 years, is seven years behind schedule, and is $200 billion over budget. Despite these ongoing failures, on April 3 Rep. Turner, who co-chairs the House JSF Caucus, announced a proposal to purchase 102 additional F-35 aircraft. Rep. Turner praised the F-35’s supposed “unique capabilities†less than one year after the House Armed Services Committee found that the F-35C “may not have the range it needs to strike enemy targets†and that the JSF “may actually have been out of date years ago.†For attempting to throw even more taxpayer dollars into the F-35 money pit, Rep. Turner is the April Porker of the Month. Read more about the Porker of the Month.
CCAGW Releases Annual Congressional Ratings
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) has released its annual Congressional Ratings, identifying those members of Congress who vote in the interests of taxpayers and those who waste taxpayer dollars. The latest edition of the Ratings examines 14 Senate and 55 House roll call votes related to tax, spending, transparency, and accountability measures. Five members of the House of Representatives and four Senators earned the coveted title of Taxpayer Super Hero by achieving the highest possible score of 100 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, seven representatives and 24 senators had a perfectly abysmal score of zero. CCAGW congratulates those members who stood by taxpayers and championed fiscal responsibility throughout the second session of the 115th Congress. Find out how your members of Congress stack up.
CCAGW Persuades House Republicans to Reject a Government Internet Takeover
In the weeks leading up to the April 10 vote in the House of Representatives on the so-called “Save the Internet Act,†CCAGW launched a digital advertising campaign urging House Republicans to vote against this Democratic legislative initiative. The Save the Internet Act would restore Obama Administration regulations of the internet that stifled investment, limited innovation, slowed deployment of the latest broadband technologies across the nation, and ultimately restricted economic growth. While the bill ultimately passed the Democratic-controlled House by a vote of 232 to 190, all but one Republican, Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.), voted against the measure, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has declared that the bill is “dead on arrival†in the Senate. Read more about the Democrats’ proposed government takeover of the internet.
From “The WasteWatcherâ€
In order to pay for California Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) bloated $209 billion budget, state legislators are looking to tax everything under the sun, explains CAGW Policy and Government Affairs Manager Peter Klensch on CAGW’s blog, “The WasteWatcher.†Among the proposals to increase revenue are new taxes and fees on soda, batteries, painkillers, telephones, new tires, notary registrations, and much more. The proposed tax on soda and sweetened beverages are among the most egregious, as regressive soda taxes have already failed in states like Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Washington. “The last things Californians need right now are more taxes and more government intervention in their everyday lives. These paternalistic proposals signal that California continues to ignore its constituents, as it barrels toward becoming the ultimate nanny state,†concludes Klensch. Read more on “The WasteWatcher,†CAGW’s staff blog.
