TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE

Results: Working in Washington, DC, TCS’s lean and effective team of specialists read the bills and get into specifics. Our attention to detail, credibility as a nonpartisan source, and commitment to accuracy mean that we can find areas of real agreement and build cross-partisan bridges to elevate common sense solutions in the federal budget. *We work with Congress.* TCS works extensively with offices across the political spectrum. TCS positions are often cited during floor debates, and TCS testifies frequently before congressional committees. TCS’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Award honors lawmakers and activists who have made a difference to taxpayers across America, and the Golden Fleece Award embodies both outrage and humor as it puts a spotlight on projects that waste taxpayer money. In 2013: TCS testified before Congress five times on different issues, invited by both parties – at one hearing, a Member called TCS’s proposals for avoiding sequester “fearless.” We were quoted in press releases from Congress more than 20 times in 2013. *We sound the alarm in the media.* TCS discusses budget issues on national TV, including on NBC Today Show and Fleecing of America, CBS Evening News, CNN Anderson Cooper 360, ABC It's Your Money, MSNBC Morning Joe, Fox and Friends; TCS was the sole feature of a Bill Moyers' Journal on PBS. TCS appears regularly in all leading opinion-leader media, from NPR to CNBC to Fox Business and all major papers including Washington Post, NY Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and regional leaders. Magazines count on our research, from The Economist and Smart Money to Reader’s Digest, Parade Magazine, and US News & World Report. Hundreds of local outlets, political blogs, and Capitol Hill papers run TCS opinion pieces and use TCS research. TCS is a key fact-checking source for PolitiFact. In 2013, we had well over 1,000 major hits with ed boards of Washington Post and Wall St Journal echoing our specific calls for reform. *We engage the public.* Through our research, website, and public outreach, we educate the public on government waste and provide opportunities for people to make their voices heard in Washington. Our online databases, timely commentary, and rapid-response action alerts provide easy-to-understand analyses of the budget process and opportunities to affect it. TCS helps grassroots citizen groups fighting boondoggles in their communities. We work on joint educational campaigns, help get media coverage, and serve as a guide in the halls of power in Washington, D.C.

Programs: Agriculture program - tcs works to educate the public about federal agriculture policy; the need for reforms to provide a limited, cost-effective, and transparent safety net for agricultural producers; and the need to eliminate poorly-directed subsidies. Activities included analysis of federal agriculture programs and educational materials on crop insurance and shallow loss coverage; agribusiness profits and political contributions; water quality and agriculture policy; disaster payments; conservation programs; and subsidies for corn ethanol, biofuels, and biomass. Tcs informed public debate, generated significant press coverage, and successfully engaged allies across the ideological spectrum.

budget oversight, investigations, and general programs - tcs tracks and monitors the federal budget, and in particular, appropriations and tax trends and impacts. Tcs educates the public about the need for stronger prioritization systems in federal spending and the need for evidence-based government. Tcs investigates and attempts to identify the true beneficiaries of discrete funding provisions, and develops detailed analyses of spending proposals. These efforts are designed to make the budget process more transparent to american taxpayers and to make members of congress and the administration directly accountable for their spending decisions. General programs involve activities on timely issues of government waste, transparency, and functions not reflected in the other program categories. (continued on schedule o) (continued)activities included production and wide distribution of educational materials on the federal debt and deficit, the appropriations process, the budget process, and tax expenditures and general tax reform. Tcs produced and distributed numerous reports and analyses including: "common sense cuts" outlining options for relieving budget caps through spending cuts and elimination of tax expenditures as well as recommendations for both the house and the senate on tax reform. Tcs undertook extensive press outreach, garnering coverage of tcs positions and tcs spokespersons, including regular appearances on all major u. S. Broadcast news outlets, opinion-leader and business trade press, and local and national print and online outlets. Tcs was a key source for media fact-checkers. In addition to regular, substantive posts on its website, tcs distributed a weekly commentary explaining budget issues to its subscriber list and to the public via other online channels. Tcs informed public debate and successfully engaged allies across the ideological spectrum.

environment & natural resources program - tcs works to educate the public about environmental and natural resource budgets; the need to eliminate environmentally harmful and wasteful spending that causes long term liabilities for taxpayers; and the need for the federal government to manage taxpayer assets of public lands and waters in a manner that preserves their value, ensures a fair return from any private interest use, and avoids future taxpayer liabilities. Tcs works on a variety of energy, public lands, and resources issues. Activities included production and distribution of new educational materials on federal subsidies for the oil and gas, coal, nuclear, biofuel, biomass, and corn ethanol industries;(continued on schedule o) (continued) corporate profits of subsidy beneficiaries; tax breaks, loan guarantees, and other financing that distorts market forces and picks winners and losers; and analysis of policy proposals. Tcs informed public debate, generated significant press coverage, and successfully engaged allies across the ideological spectrum.