Taxpayers for Common Sense

09/04/2026

A new 3-bill package would hold oil & gas companies accountable. Find out more here

On September 3, Representative Dexter (D-CA) introduced legislation focused on improving accountability for oil and gas operators on federal lands and waters

09/04/2026

More than gold, glitz, railroads, or ranching, water defines the West. Read how the latest debates over western water may affect your wallet in our Wastebasket.

More than gold, glitz, railroads, or ranching, water defines the Western U.S. In an area that’s mostly arid, water is the most precious commodity. Since the

09/04/2026

Tariff rates changed. The legal authority behind them changed. Billions already collected had to be refunded. This is not a reliable revenue plan. It is a moving target that makes accurate fiscal projections harder to pin down.

The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) latest Monthly Budget Review confirms what taxpayers should have expected from a tariff policy built on shaky legal

09/04/2026

Oil and gas companies wasted 209 billion cubic feet of natural gas on federal lands over the last 10yrs. That is enough to power 2.8 million households for a year. That’s a valuable public resource going up in smoke. Literally.

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a valuable energy resource. When methane is lost during production and distribution, American taxpayers,

09/03/2026

In February, CBO projected a $1.9 trillion deficit for FY2026. Now it projects $2.1 trillion. Why the $200 billion swing? Because tariff policy built on shaky legal ground produces revenue projections that are just as shaky.

The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) latest Monthly Budget Review confirms what taxpayers should have expected from a tariff policy built on shaky legal

09/03/2026

Sens. Senator Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, United States Senator Mike Lee, along w/ Rep. Tim Burchett, are pushing to prioritize warfighters in defense contracting by ensuring contractors invest in industrial capacity before padding profits. Now it's on leadership to get this done. Letter:

Read the Letter in PDF Format

09/03/2026

Roadless areas provide outdoor recreation benefits and support local economies plus they can save us billions in costly roadbuilding. Roads expose taxpayers to long-term maintenance costs while also increasing the harms to fish and wildlife, risk of to wildfires & and exposure to invasive species.

In 2001, the Forest Service adopted the Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule), which prohibits road construction, road reconstruction, and timber

09/03/2026

Before funding these new shipbuilding plans, Congress should ask themselves: Is this really the best way to keep Americans safe? If not, those taxpayer dollars should be put to a better use. https://www.taxpayer.net/national-security/bwaf-podcast-ep-121-steam-dream-redesigning-a-22-billion-carrier-for-looks/

09/02/2026

A new proposed rule could leave taxpayers with $6.2 billion in potential unfunded reclamation liabilities from orphaned oil & gas wells on federal lands. In our comments to the agency, TCS urged the BLM to strengthen, not weaken, taxpayer protections.

Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rule regarding the federal onshore

09/02/2026

Our latest report takeaway: methane waste has persisted through changing administrations and continues to cost taxpayers millions. But maintaining common sense policies that curtail waste can help get taxpayers a fair return on the resources we all own, not another decade of the same broken status quo.

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a valuable energy resource. When methane is lost during production and distribution, American taxpayers,