http://www.capitolwatch.org Defending American Taxpayers from Ineffective Government and Wasteful Spending en-us http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=81 Leave it to the federal government to bungle one of its most important tasks: managing the tax dollars we as citizens pay. From the "stimulus package" debacle to the calls from Congress to create a bailout fund for people who are unable to pay their mortgages, the onus of responsibility has continued to shift from individuals to the government and in doing so, consume resources that are dwindling in a time when more relevant needs are rising exponentially. http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=80 There are, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, approximately 8,983 earmarks (pork barrel legislation) for a total of around $7.4 BILLION in the 2008 omnibus appropriations bill. http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=79 The Senate approved a farm bill that would provide government subsidies to farmers earning up to $2.5 million after expenses, rejecting an amendment to lower the cutoff amount to $750,000 (in case you were wondering, $750,000 is 15 times the 2006 median household income). http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=78 In order to keep a sizeable number of middle-income families from being hit with an average $2,000 tax increase via the alternative minimum tax (AMT), Congress is focused on passing legislation that would effectively nullify the tax for at least one year. http://www.capitolwatch.org/frontStory.php?ID=77 The CapitolWatch.org website is being updated!