Pay-Go & Spending Cuts: Lets Get Ahead of This

[me b zola]

Pay-Go is a victory for the new Democratic Congress and I believe that it will be a good thing. But there are potential pit-falls if we don't get ahead of this process. The money will have to come from somewhere & republicans are already salivating at the possibility of de-funding what they term "entitlements", which of course is code for the New Deal and social safety net programs put into place to assist those who need it the most. I say not one more dollar should be slashed from programs that feed the hungry, house the low income, provide educational assistance, or medical assistance to those who need it.

We as Democrats should get ahead of this with a comprehensive list of corporate welfare and entitlements to the wealthy and petition our leaders in Congress to target those when it comes time to trim spending.

My idea is for us as a community is to first identify & list the most egregious programs/legislation that subsidies corporate interests & the wealthy. We should make this list agreeable to the majority of us and as uncontroversial as possible.

The second stage of our project should be to do or provide a cost/savings analysis of each entitlement programs that we have identified as un-necessary to the public good.

Then of course the final step would be to petition Congress with a statement of support for our social safety net programs and the results of our research as to un-necessary entitlements that would not cause social harm if they were de-funded.


I will lead off with an example of corporate welfare that should be on the chopping block: Oil company subsidies. Oil companies had always paid a fee for drilling on public lands, but last summer the republican congress (I really wish that the do-nothing-congress had done less) passed legislation giving the oil companies the right to take our natural resources and not have to pay a penny for it.


Now it’s your turn. What are the entitlements that you believe can or should be cut?






X-posted in activist HQ
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x29971

[Bake]

1. Farm subsidies are a huge boondoggle.

Especially as they pertain to and enure to agricorporations.

Bake

[me b zola]

3. I agree with you on that

But we must be careful to not target family farm subsidies, even though some of them are outlandish. Are there specific subsidies to corporate farms?

[Joanne98]

7. ADM ADM ADM ADM..........

[Joanne98]

9. ADM and price fixing wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archer_Daniels_Midland

[Joanne98]

2. How about the ethanol intitlement....

Or farm subsidies for ADM!

[me b zola]

6. I doubt that Congress would touch ethonol...

Iowa cashes in on that cow and of course are important to the primaries.

ADM? You mean the company/corporation? If so, it sounds good. :thumbsup:

[Joanne98]

8. Who do you think is making the ethanol?

[Wiley50]

4. I Am SO With You On This!

I live on SSI disability and Medicaid

The Pubs have been slashing on us for 12 years.

Enough Already!

Matter of fact, we could use some back

[me b zola]

11. If we can identify enough pork that the fat-cats are gorging themselves on...

...there will be money to increase funding for needed social programs :hi:

[Joanne98]

5. Somebody already tried to do this.... H.R. 4254,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MURFY ALEXANDER
NOVEMBER 9, 2005 ANNE SMART
615.736.5295

CUT $50 BILLION FROM CORPORATE HANDOUTS,
HOUSE GROUP URGES



WASHINGTON, D.C.— At the same time that the Republican-led House of Representatives has called for $50 billion in cuts to programs that include Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ benefits and student loans, a group of House Democrats says at least $50 billion in savings could and should come from handouts Congress has been giving away to corporations.

"Oil and gas companies are reporting record profits of staggering amounts yet Congress gave the industry an $8 billion handout in the energy bill passed this summer, just to go out and do their job,” U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper said. “That makes no sense. Federal spending should not be based on the special interests of those with access to effective lobbyists in Washington but, unfortunately, corporate entitlements have become an increasing part of business in Washington.”

Cooper introduced legislation last night, the Corporate Entitlement Reform Act of 2005, that will identify corporate entitlements — direct grants, subsidies and tax breaks — that are a wasteful and inefficient use of taxpayer money. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Jim Costa, Lincoln Davis, Rahm Emanuel, Harold Ford, Jr., Tim Ryan, David Scott and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"With federal deficits at record levels, Congress can’t afford giveaways to those that don’t need them, while urgent priorities such as health care and national security go shortchanged,” Cooper added.

"This Commission will help eliminate corporate welfare like the billions of dollars in subsidies in the Energy bill this Congress hands out to Big Oil and Energy to execute their business plans,” said Congressman Emanuel.

"As a new Member of Congress, I am struck by the nonsensical ability of our government to spend money we do not have during a time of war, record deficits and epic international borrowing, while at the same time those in charge insist on tax cuts,” said Congressman Costa. “That math simply does not equal sound fiscal management. This bill, however, makes a strong statement against wasteful and inefficient spending.”

The bill calls for the creation of a nine-member, bipartisan Congressional Commission. The Commission will review existing corporate entitlements and recommend to Congress a minimum of $50 billion in savings over ten years. By establishing an objective, bipartisan Commission, the bill guarantees that special interests will not capture the process.

"The facts don’t lie — corporations are paying an ever dwindling share of total federal tax receipt,” said Congressman Ryan. “Highly corporate paid lobbyists have so infiltrated the political process that companies are practically writing their own tax rebate checks. Meanwhile, working-class mothers and fathers are struggling to put food on the table — counting every penny just to stay one step ahead of financial ruin. Congress has an obligation to police the federal tax code to ensure that corporations are paying their fair share.”

"We need to review these corporate tax breaks to insure that they make sense,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “In Florida we discovered that while we were raising $17 billion in sales taxes, we were exempting $23 billion in corporate taxes, many of which did not make sense – like providing tax exemptions for skyboxes, ostrich farmers and adult entertainment. The purpose of corporate tax exemptions should be to stimulate a business sector and create jobs in a cost effective manner.”

The Commission will be given one year to do its work before submitting its recommendations to Congress. Congress will then be required to take an up-or-down vote on the Commission’s final package of spending cuts. The bill, H.R. 4254, has been referred to the House Committees on Government Reform, Ways and Means and the Committee on Rules.

http://cooper.house.gov/newsroom/releases/nov05/110905_handouts.htm

This is good news because we just have to revise this bill.

[dogday]

10. Bingo, I was going to say cut the subsidies to the Oil Co's...

With tens of billions of dollars in profit for one freaking quarter, they do not need this from us......

[me b zola]

13. Excellent!

Makes my thread pretty worthless, but it's good to know that the Dems are already on top of which "entitlements" really need to go.

I just got worried because they have in the past gone along with cuts to neccessay programs and we really can't afford to see that again.

Thanks for the link, I'll be calling and writing asking them to resubmitt that bill :hi:

[Wiley50]

17. Jim Cooper is my congressman. I just emailed him

Jim, Please Re-Introduce H.R. 4254 Corporate entitlements must go! I live solely on SSI Disability and Tenncare. People like me need that money much more than corporations. And while you're at it PLEASE STOP THE WASTE OF MONEY AND LIVES IN IRAQ. And IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY FOR LYING US INTO IRAQ IN THE FIRST PLACE!

[Joanne98]

12. Corporate Welfare Information Center!

Corporate Welfare Information Center
http://www.corporations.org/welfare/

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"The $150 billion for corporate subsidies and tax benefits eclipses the annual budget deficit of $130 billion. It's more than the $145 billion paid out annually for the core programs of the social welfare state: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), student aid, housing, food and nutrition, and all direct public assistance (excluding Social Security and medical care)."
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"After World War II, the nation's tax bill was roughly split between corporations and individuals. But after years of changes in the federal tax code and international economy, the corporate share of taxes has declined to a fourth the amount individuals pay, according to the US Office of Management and Budget." --Boston Globe series on Corporate Welfare
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Corporate Welfare Basics
RACHEL's Environment & Health Weekly newsletters:
#422: Corporate Welfare
#396: Unfunded Mandates (tax breaks)

Corporate Welfare Examples
Common Cause Reports:
Return on Investment: The Hidden Story of Soft Money, Corporate Welfare and the 1997 Budget & Tax Deal
Corporate Welfare Issues Page
Green Scissors Campaign - Environmentally-Damaging Corporate Welfare

Friends of the Earth -- "Economics for the Earth" Reports:

Green Scissors 2000
Green Scissors '99 - $51 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors '98 - $49 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors '97 - $36 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors '96 - $38.8 Billion in anti-environmental corporate pork
Green Scissors report ('95)
(34 choice examples of environmentally damaging corporate welfare projects)
Dirty Little Secrets report
(15 of the most unfair and environmentally damaging tax breaks)
Road to Ruin Report
($10 Billion Worth of harmful, unneeded and environmentally damaging new highway projects)
Taxpayers for Common $ense -- Publications/Reports
The Waste Basket -- a weekly bulletin of wasteful government spending
Road to Ruin II (even more pork barrel highways)
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Factsheet
Blank Check: The Cost to U.S. Taxpayers of Creating a New "Takings" Entitlement
Citizens for Tax Justice -- Giveaways to the Rich and Corporations
The Hidden Entitlements: Tax Loopholes from A to Z
Citizens for Leaders with Ethics and Accountability Now! (CLEAN)
Sports Stadiums
HUD Abuses


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Corporate Welfare Mailing lists
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Other Resources on Corporate Welfare
Take the Rich Off Welfare, Odonian Press, Zepezauer and Naiman.
191 pages; costs $9.00; available by calling 1-800-732-5786
A couple of the fine statistics covered are:

"If you cut 26 percent of the welfare now given to the rich you have instantly balanced the budget."
"If you cut out weathfare, you could pay off the national debt in 11 years."

Sample Legislation to Reform Corparate Welfare
Getting Business Off The Public Dole: State and Local Model Laws to Curb Corporate Welfare Abuse
An Act To End Business Welfare Abuse: Proposed State Legislation



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Reports, Articles and Testimony on Corporate Welfare
Essential Information (Ralph Nader) Press Releases on Corporate Welfare

Cato Institute (a libertarian think tank)


Archer Daniels Midland: A Case Study In Corporate Welfare
Cato Handbook for Congress: Corporate Welfare
How Corporate Welfare Won: Clinton and Congress Fail to Eliminate Business Subsidies - 1997 Budget
white paper and its summary
Policy Analysis on 1996 Budget and its summary
Ending Corporate Welfare As We Know It - 1995 Policy Analysis
Testimony Before Congress:
The Advanced Technology Program And Other Corporate Subsidies (testimony before the Senate Subcommittee On Government Management)
The Advanced Technology Program (testimony before the House Subcommittee on Technology Committee on Science)
Fiscal Year 1998 Budget Authorization for DOE, EPA R&D, and NOAA (Testimony Before the House Committee on Science, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment)
Funding at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Technology)
Environmental Working Group Reports on Agriculture Subsidies:


The Cash Croppers: The Top Two Percent Of America's Farm Subsidy Recipients 1985-1994
City Slickers: Farm Subsidy Recipients In America's Biggest Cities
Faking Takings: Farm Subsidies and Private Property in Perspective
"Freedom to Farm": An Analysis of Payments To Large Agribusiness Operations Big City Residents and the USDA Bureaucracy
Fox in the Henhouse: Cash, Crime & Conflict of Interest in Federal Farm Subsidy Programs
Common Cause's Position on Corporate Welfare

Bye-bye corporate tax revenues (1999 CSM article)

Boston Globe's Series on Corporate Welfare:


July 7, 1996: Helping Companies Grab All They Can Get
July 7, 1996: The $150 Billion `Welfare' Recipients: U.S. Corporations
July 8, 1996: Tax code gives companies a lift
July 9, 1996: Business' clout keeps the government breaks coming
Philadelphia Inquirer's Series on Corporate Welfare:

June 4, 1995: How Billions in Taxes Failed to Create Jobs
June 5, 1995: The Price of Keeping Labs Busy
June 6, 1995: His Biggest Competitor? The U.S. Government
June 7, 1995: Plans To Save Textile Jobs: A Wash
June 8, 1995: High-Tech House That Clout Built
June 9, 1995: A Successful Program, or Millions Down the Drain?
June 10, 1995: The Perils of Living Grant to Grant
The more corporate welfare received, the more layoffs...
This is a list of the 8 corporate welfare recipients that were listed in the first article of the Inquirer series, comparing corporate welfare received to the number of people layed off in that time (1990-1994).

Welfare recieved Employment
GM $110,600,000 -104,000
IBM 58,000,000 -100,000
AT&T 35,000,000 -1,077 * #
GE 25,400,000 -80,000
Amoco 23,600,000 -8,300 *
DuPont 15,200,000 -29,961
Motorola 15,100,000 +9,600 *
Citicorp 9,600,000 -15,700

* exceptions to the trend
# AT&T layed off 40,000 people shortly after this accounting

see also: Tax Subsidies Reward Corporate Downsizers (Citizens for Tax Justice report)



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Articles and letters to the editor about Corporate Welfare:

The Real Welfare Cheats: Corporate America
The Other "Welfare Queens"
Now Is Not the Time To Increase Corporate Welfare


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Corporate Welfare Mailing Lists
There are 2 national email mailing lists (listserves) that deal with corporate welfare issues.
OUCH! - newsletter of Public Campaign (sign up here)

The Waste Basket - A weekly bulletin of wasteful government spending from the Taxpayers for Common $ense.

Also, Essential Information (a Ralph Nader group) used to run a low volume announcement list on corporate welfare. The archives are here.




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Return to the Corporate Accountability Project
Last modified: 18 August 2002

http://www.corporations.org/welfare/

[me b zola]

15. More great info, thanks Joanne98!

So now it looks as though all we need to do is petition Congress to revise/resubmitt the earlier legislation and let them know that we cannot afford any cuts to neccessary social programs.

I x-posted your up-thread response to the thread that I started in Activists HQ to get the info out there.

Once again, thanks :hi:

[Joanne98]

18. Youe Welcome Zola

[Bake]

14. If you can stand it, I recommend reading Joe Scarborough

"Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day."

Get past the Clinton bashing and the obvious tripe, and Joe levels his harshest criticism at his fellow Repukelicans. With examples. And we need to face the fact that Dems do it too -- pork barrel earmarking wasting of OUR money.

An entertaining read. Especially re: Joe's first encounter in person with The Big Dog.

Bake

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Half a trillion a year for the M/I complex. $40 Billion/yr for a "drug war" aimed mostly at pot.

Not including the cost of being the highest per capita incarcerator of non-violent offenders in the industrialized world.

I think that's an excellent place to start, if we want to talk about "smaller gov't".

[Joanne98]

19. Prisons. Make the locals pay to cage their own citizens!

NO CORPORATIONS ALLOWED!