ALG - International Monetary Fund demands U.S. 'repeal the sequester'

June 17, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement in response to a call from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director Christine Lagarde for Congress to "repeal the sequester" because she says "the effect of the sequester and deficit reduction more generally are already affecting the economy… [by] shav[ing] 1.25 to 1.75 percentage points of growth":

"Lagarde's complaint that spending cuts lower GDP is simultaneously accurate and misleading, as government spending is proportionately included in the measure of the GDP. This is a bias of the first order in favor of government spending, because when government grows faster than the private sector, it appears to boost GDP and when spending is reduced, GDP appears to slow down. This is an illusion.

"The Bureau of Economic Analysis reports real growth annualized in the first quarter was 2.4 percent, but if government spending is excluded from the measure, the private sector grew by more like 4 percent. By that measure, the private sector is doing just fine even with sequestration.

"Moreover, it is only because of sequestration that S&P has been able to upgrade its outlook on the $16.7 trillion U.S. national debt from negative to stable. It is particularly insulting to taxpayers for the IMF to demand the sequester be repealed at the same time the Obama Administration has also asked for a $65 billion increase in the U.S. quota to the IMF. If anything, this is just one more reason the U.S. should defund the IMF in full."

To view online: http://getliberty.org/international-monetary-fund-demands-u-s-repeal-the-sequester/

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Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

ALG's Daily Grind - Edward Snowden: Hero, or traitor?

June 11, 2013

Edward Snowden: Hero, or traitor?

NSA whistleblower: "even if you're not doing anything wrong you're being watched and recorded."

Cartoon: No such death panel

Should the government be deciding who lives and who dies in health care decisions, or doctors and patients?

Democrat Elijah Cummings Declared IRS Scandal Solved

House Oversight Committee ranking member: "Based upon everything I've seen the case is solved.  If it were me, I would wrap this case up and move on to be frank with you." 

Farage: Greece has been sacrificed on the altar of the failed euro experiment

"An IMF report proves that British taxpayers' money was used to back a coup against the Greek people."

ALG's Daily Grind - U.S. lends $35 billion through IMF foreign aid slush fund

April 30, 2013

Editorial: U.S. lends $35 billion through IMF foreign aid slush fund

Total represents more than 24 percent of the agency's $145.4 billion of outstanding loans. Well above its 17.7 percent quota, the U.S. is funding a disproportionate share of IMF loans.

Cartoon: Obama's cleaver

The White House wants to make certain you feel sequester, even if it is not necessary.

Church of Global Warming feels the heat

Seventeen straight years of climate stability will straighten even the most ardent true believers hockey stick.

UK Telegraph: Cyprus parliament to vote on savings deposit tax again

"While Cypriot finance minister Harris Georgiades last week voiced confidence that the island's fractious parliament will approve the deal, the vote is likely to put the bail-out on a knife-edge as nearly half of the 56-member house is considered likely to oppose or abstain."

CEI Today: Alcohol taxes, IMF carbon taxes, and unfunded budget mandates

ALCOHOL TAXES - ANGELA LOGOMASINI

Openmarket.org: Who Profits From Alcohol Taxes?

While there appears to be no acceptable level of alcohol consumption to participants at the Alcohol Policy 16 Conference, which met last week in Arlington, Virginia, they certainly don’t mind profiting from people who dodrink. During a discussion on alcohol tax policy, these “public health advocates” discussed ways to hike the rates as much as possible and earmark the funds to their own organizations.

I thought we’d hear about research related to the impact of taxes on alcohol abuse. For example: Do higher taxes really reduce alcohol abuse or do they simply punish all alcohol consumers? The answer to that question appeared not to matter. The entire discussion revolved around how to lobby for taxes and profit in the process. > Read the full commentary

> See also: Alcohol Regulation Roundup: April 10, 2013

> Interview Angela Logomasini

IMF CARBON TAX - MARLO LEWIS Globalwarming.org: IMF Pushes Carbon Tax as Energy Subsidy “Reform” The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently published a report urging the world’s governments to “reform” energy subsidies estimated at $1.9 trillion in 2011. Eliminating government policies designed to rig markets in favor of particular energy companies or industries is a worthy goal. Unfortunately, that’s not the agenda the IMF is pushing. > Read more > Interview Marlo Lewis

CEI Podcast For April 11, 2013: Reining in Unfunded Mandates Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews warns that the higher the deficit goes, the more tempted the federal government is to resort to unfunded mandates, which don’t appear on the federal budget. He also discusses a reform bill from Rep. Virginia Foxx that would increase transparency and oversight over unfunded mandates, and suggests further reforms. > Interview Wayne Crews

More in the news... Obama Budget: Bad News For Investors, Taxpayers, And Education Reform Will New EPA Head Open Agency to News Media? Obamacare Strangles Job Creation, Stifles Medical Innovation Even After Cuts, Regulation Pushes Up Cost Of Government NOAA Proposes Tuna-Dolphin Regulations To Comply With WTO Ruling

CEI ANNUAL DINNER & GALA FEATURING THE HONORABLE RAND PAUL JUNE 20, 2013 cei.org/ceidinner

CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government.  For more information about CEI, please visit our website, cei.org, and blogs, Globalwarming.org and OpenMarket.org.  Follow CEI on Twitter! Twitter.com/ceidotorg.

CEI Today: Cyber security bill, IMF carbon tax, and E-Verify public opinion

CYBER SECURITY - WAYNE CREWS & RYAN RADIA

The House Intelligence Committee is expected to markup a cybersecurity bill Wednesday, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. CEI's Wayne Crews and Ryan Radia have been critical of “CISPA.”

It’s not clear what government’s capabilities really are with respect to private critical infrastructure security and cybersecurity, regardless of resources. Given that, ensuring that nothing blocks markets from reacting as fluidly as possible, rather than federally over-steering cybersecurity, should be the guiding principle.  > Read the full commentary

> View the coalition letter, expressing concerns that companies would share sensitive Internet and other information with the government without sufficient privacy safeguards, oversight or accountability.

> Interview Wayne Crews or Ryan Radia

 

IMF CARBON TAX - MARLO LEWIS Master Resource: IMF’s Carbon Tax Shenanigans: Part I The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently published a report urging the world’s governments to “reform” energy subsidies estimated at $1.9 trillion in 2011. Eliminating government policies designed to rig markets in favor of particular energy companies or industries is a worthy goal. Unfortunately, that’s not the agenda the IMF is pushing. The IMF seeks to shame U.S. policymakers into enacting a carbon tax.  > Read more > Interview Marlo Lewis

E-VERIFY - DAVID BIER Openmarket.org: Americans Reject Actual E-Verify System Imagine there was a free program that could guarantee for employers a legal workforce and eliminate illegal immigration. Would you favor such a system? Yes or no? This is essentially how all polls attempt to gauge the popularity of E-Verify, the electronic national identification system included in many immigration reform proposals. Then, the system’s proponents exclaim, “Americans demand E-Verify!” > View the full commentary > Interview David Bier

More in the news... Health “Advocates”: Tax And Regulate Responsible Drinkers Protectionist Law Proposed In New York Would Hit Wine Consumers Hardest JOBS Act — What’s Been Implemented — Is Working; Now Implement The Rest!

CEI ANNUAL DINNER & GALA FEATURING THE HONORABLE RAND PAUL JUNE 20, 2013 cei.org/ceidinner

CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government.  For more information about CEI, please visit our website, cei.org, and blogs, Globalwarming.org and OpenMarket.org.  Follow CEI on Twitter! Twitter.com/ceidotorg.