One of the more infuriating actions by government is when it uses tax money for advocacy. In our
democracy, people themselves are supposed to use their own money and time for causes, including
elections. When government itself gets into the action, it skews the wishes of the electorate in an
undemocratic fashion.
A new Cato Institute study pulls the cover off one tax-funded advocacy group, the so-called Fair
Taxes for All Coalition, which opposed President Bush's recently enacted tax cut. The Coalition is
composed of "hundreds of non-profit organizations led by People for the American Way and the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees," the Cato study notes.
The study points out that the Coalition, of course, has a First
Amendment right to free speech - with their own money, not money
taken from taxpayers. But Coalition members "received $618
million in taxpayer money" from 1996-2000.
Some of the biggest recipients include unions closely connected to
the Democratic Party: $6.6 million to the AFL-CIO, $3.6 million to the National Education
Association and $3 million to the UAW.
Even the National Council of Churches got $18 million. Usually People for the American Way
strongly advocates "separation of church and state." Why not in this case?
The money came as grants to these groups to participate in such government programs as
Welfare-to-Work, part of the 1996 Welfare Reform Law. Ironically, the best way to get people jobs
is to cut taxes so businesses have more to invest in capital and new jobs.
"Much of the government money going to those organizations funds programs and services," Cato
noted. "Nonetheless, the federal money still constitutes a subsidy for the coalition's anti-tax cut
advocacy. After all, money is fungible. Government funds given for programs or services allow an
organization to devote other money to advocacy efforts. The federal money also necessarily builds
those organizations' base of support and infrastructure, which enhances their advocacy efforts."
So long as these groups are active politically, in opposing tax refunds for overtaxed U.S. citizens or
anything else, they should not receive any tax money. Indeed, the programs funded with the tax
money also should be closely scrutinized for efficacy and integrity.
cato.org |
