Accountability
Cultivating the grassroots: the Taxpayers League of Minnesota
Should taxpayers be expected to foot the bill for professional sports teams? While some diehard fans may say yes, most people see taxpayer-funded sports as a waste of their money. It's lucky for taxpayers, then, that groups like the Taxpayers League of Minnesota exist to monitor government waste and mobilize like-minded individuals and resources to fight against it.
Sam Adams Alliance Connects Allies at Boot Camp
Our website states that our mission is to "connect and support citizen leaders who are working to defend liberty, hold the government accountable, and protect the rights of taxpayers starting at the state and local level."
And we mean it.
Efficient Public Transportation: If London can do it, why not Chicago?
We want the whole world to see in 2016 that we are a world-class city, an Olympic host city. To prove this, however, we need a world-class transit system. To build such a system, our rail and bus transit agencies are demanding new Chicago and suburban taxes. The biggest demand comes from the CTA.
Saving San Clemente: Rick Collins
Rick Collins bought a home in San Clemente, California 17 years ago because it was a great place to open a business and raise a family.
In the past few years, however, he's been feeling differently.
Ben Joravsky Throws Lifeline to Chicago Taxpayers Drowning in $400 Million TIF Slush Fund
In the recent movie "Rescue Dawn," a U.S. fighter pilot struggles to survive after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War. In present-day Chicago, Ben Joravsky, a columnist for the Chicago Reader, jokes that his experience is similar—only instead of battling in the jungles of Laos, Joravsky is fighting to save apathetic Chicago citizens from a wildly corrupt Chicago city government.
Nevertheless, both are war zones.
Putting the Brakes On Out-Of-Control Spending In Washington
In 1993, Washington State citizens set out to put a stop to out-of-control government spending, and passed a law that required their consent when politicians sought to raise taxes. Initiative 601 was a success for a while, but over the following fourteen years, legislators found certain loopholes and bypassed the people to impose heavier tax burdens on them and their businesses.
In 2007, however, a group of concerned Washington citizens aims to change that.
California Citizens Take the Lead for Private Property Rights
Since the Supreme Court's infamous Kelo decision in 2005, states across the country have enacted stronger, more secure measures of protection for private property rights. Thus far, however, such reforms have skipped over the largest state in the country, prompting California citizens to take charge of the effort and leave a reluctant legislature in the dust.
Creating a Movement for Reform in New Jersey
There are 1,600 different government entities in New Jersey, including 616 school districts and 600 towns--all this for the fourth smallest state in the country. Is it any wonder, then, that there is such little government accountability and transparency in this inevitable mess of paperwork?
Enter the New Jersey Taxpayers Association, a statewide group that plans to clear the way for pro-taxpayer reform in the third-highest taxed state in the country.
A First Amendment Victory for Teachers
Should unions be able to spend the dues of nonmembers on political activities without their prior approval? On June 14, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled-in a unanimous decision-that they cannot, cementing working professionals' First Amendment rights and winning one for union accountability.
TrinityVote: Giving Voters A Say In Dallas
When Dallas residents voted in 1998 on a referendum to improve the city's riverfront, they thought they knew what they were getting into: a new park system along the Trinity River. But nine years later, there's still no park and residents are getting a lot more than they bargained for-including a government-sponsored campaign to block the voice of the people.
The Right to Know: Jan Murphy's Fight for Good Government In Pennsylvania
The average debt for a student graduating from college is about $20,000. How, then, did the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which awards scholarships to Pennsylvania students pursuing higher education, justify spending over $800,000 on trips and spa retreats for employees? Well, they didn't. The PHEAA concealed all of the records detailing the receipts and costs of these trips and sent the bill to unknowing Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Sam In The News: John Stossel Highlights Arlington Heights Victory
"Opponents of eminent domain finally have something to celebrate. After a public campaign, Target Corp. has decided not to build a store on condemned property in Arlington Heights, Ill.,"writes acclaimed journalist John Stossel in an article highlighting the victory and the Sam Adams Alliance.
Defending Connecticut Taxpayers: Susan Kniep
For Connecticut taxpayers, life is rough. Just ask Susan Kniep, president of the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations (FCTO).
Public servant. It has a certain ring to it, like said person might actually serve the public.
Not sue the public.
Shining a spotlight on Texas School Systems: Peyton Wolcott
When Peyton Wolcott began volunteering at her daughter's high school in Horseshoe Bay, Texas she found it odd that her daughter had to raise money for her choir gown even though the school set aside money for costumes and uniforms. So Wolcott filed her first Texas Public Information Act request--and now, after years of steadfast devotion, she has become one of Texas's foremost champions of government accountability and transparency.
Open government is not the most passionate political issue. But you can't have a free society if citizens don't control their government. And citizens can't effectively control government if they can't find out what government's up to.
Bringing "Excellent Education for Everyone" to New Jersey: Dan Gaby
If you’ve ever played Monopoly, you know just how easy it is to rake in that pastel-colored cash when you control large swaths of the board. If your competitors have no choice but to land on your properties, you can force them, under the rules, to pay large sums of money—and, frequently, send them right to the poor house and straight out of the game.
Keeping an eye on local government: Harold Hamilton, Anoka County, Minnesota
Harold Hamilton of Anoka County, MN, initially formed his website out of frustration with the local government. Nearly two years later, his site, the Anoka County Watchdog, has already made a real impact in holding the local government accountable to the taxpayers.
Massachusetts Government Reaches the Masses
A lot of people work what are called "regular hours." And for these people, it's not always easy to "interface" with government.
Helping Government Officials Face the Music: Colorado's Face the State
Face the State, a new political website, didn’t take long to jump into the spotlight. Within a week of its launch, the Colorado-based site unearthed a typo-filled e-mail from State Rep. Mike Merrifield, an elected official and school choice opponent, where he said that those in favor of charter schools “deserve a special place in hell.”
Why has Illinois's governor, Rod Blagojevich, cooked up such a crazy new tax? Could it really be that he doesn't understand the first thing about economics, business, or accounting?
Lifting the Lid off of Pennsylvania Government
Jamie Blaine, a former US Army Staff Sergeant, teacher and newspaper publisher from Avondale, Pennsylvania, had done a lot of things before this past April—but blogging wasn’t one of them. That was before he launched PassOpenRecords.org, a new website advocating for more open, transparent government.
500 citizens storm capitol for tax rally
When 500 Michigan taxpayers stormed the capitol with an anti-tax rally, it was Leon Drolet leading the efforts to get the word out and unite like-minded citizens and groups.
As it turns out, he’s just getting started.
“You shouldn’t go around touting that you balanced your budget when your deficit is $44 billion.” Good advice, no? Well, Sheila Weinberg said it first. Ms. Weinberg has taken on the world’s most yawner of a topic, accounting, and is trying to get your attention. If we don’t (or can’t) follow our governments’ accounts, politicians and bureaucrats will rob us blind.
When is a non-profit energy company set up to save taxpayers money not non-profit and not saving taxpayers money? Short answer: when it’s the Illinois Energy Consortium.
Tell Target: Don't Bulldoze Property Rights!
Small businesses are at risk - stand up for property rights today. Click here to read more and to download a printable flyer that you can give to the manager at your local Target store.
Bloggers Take Action for Accountable Government
It looks like Todd Rowden isn’t the only one who has reached his “Popeye moment”—several Illinois bloggers are also taking action to publicize the situation that Rowden uncovered involving millions of taxpayer dollars and the public school system.
California Group Wins for Accountable Government...And Stays Together To Do More
Steve Sherman, co-chairman of the California group NoGRAB, helped rally Gardena citizens together to stand for accountable city government. Now, even after victory, NoGRAB continues to work for property rights state-wide.
Reaching the "Popeye" Moment: Todd Rowden
Todd Rowden calls his recent involvement in unveiling and fighting a scheme involving millions of taxpayer dollars and the public school system his “Popeye” moment. Rowden, an Illinois attorney, elaborates: Popeye, after being taunted mercilessly by his arch-enemy Brutus, utters those iconic lines, “I can’t stands it no more.”
