Taxpayers for Common Sense

10/20/2026

The Trump-class battleship is bad for taxpayers. Policy Analyst Gabe Murphy explains why.

10/20/2026

For too long American taxpayers have left with the bill for reclaiming (cleaning up) abandoned oil and gas wells. A new proposal from Senator Michael Bennet would set bonding rates that more closely reflect the actual cost of cleanup - a critical step in protecting taxpayers.

Today, Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Stop Orphaned Wells Act, which would provide necessary reforms to outdated and insufficient oil and gas

10/20/2026

You shouldn’t build a budget around revenue that might not stick. Our latest episode of Budget Watchdog AF explains why relying on tariff windfalls was a risky bet, and what Washington should focus on instead: https://www.taxpayer.net/budget-appropriations-tax/bwaf-podcast-ep-125-closing-the-books-a-2-trillion-deficit-and-a-1-14-trillion-interest-bill/

10/20/2026

FEMA is falling behind on disaster prevention. Communities requested $16 billion in funding through the BRIC program, but FEMA had only awarded $2.5 billion of the $4.8 billion available across its first four cycles as of March 2025. These delays can make projects more expensive for taxpayers.

The cheapest flood to pay for is the one that never happens.

10/19/2026

Our Quote of the Week for the week of October 19 comes from Kristalina Georgieva.

Our Quote of the Week is released with our Weekly Wastebasket newsletter. Sign up to receive our Wastebasket here: https://www.taxpayer.net/wastebasket/

10/19/2026

What's behind the latest inflation numbers? Gasoline is a big part of the story, but tariffs are adding costs of their own. Two new economic reports reveal how those costs reach consumers and why removing tariffs doesn't necessarily bring prices down. Our breakdown.

Americans got a double dose of bad news about prices this week. On Wednesday, the government reported that inflation had climbed to 3.7 percent, with gasoline

10/19/2026

DEBTrimental: This week’s total federal debt clock:

10/19/2026

Florida is seeking federal aid after Hurricane Isaias damaged nearly 1,000 homes. Even a state with extensive hurricane experience needs federal help. FEMA reform requires more than shifting costs to states.

FEMA provided $3.2 billion in direct assistance to more than 1.2 million households across just a handful of recent disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and

10/18/2026

How did the deficit reach nearly $2 trillion in a year without a pandemic or recession? Our latest podcast episode breaks down decades of spending decisions, from emergency response to commitments Washington never offset. Listen: https://www.taxpayer.net/budget-appropriations-tax/bwaf-podcast-ep-125-closing-the-books-a-2-trillion-deficit-and-a-1-14-trillion-interest-bill/

10/18/2026

Prices go up like a rocket and come down like a feather. New research from the NY Fed helps explain why that's especially true for tariffs. Paired with the latest inflation report, it paints a troubling picture for consumers. Our analysis connects the dots.

Americans got a double dose of bad news about prices this week. On Wednesday, the government reported that inflation had climbed to 3.7 percent, with gasoline