Despite record-setting revenues, billions in reserve accounts, and promising industry forecasts, U.S. airports are lobbying Congress to increase the passenger facility charge (PFC), a move that would make flying more expensive for the more than 90 million air travelers that board planes in Tampa International or Miami International Airports or elsewhere in Florida every year. […]
Real Clear Energy: Electric Car Subsidies Aren’t All They’re Cracked Up to Be
For more than a decade, the federal government has picked winners and losers in the automobile market by heavily subsidizing electric vehicles (EVs). Now, with those subsidies set to phase out for the largest EV manufacturers, some lawmakers are now pushing to have the subsidies greatly expanded. To read this op-ed, visit Real Clear Energy.
Don’t Get Left Holding the Bag in the Fight Over Airport Fees
If you’ve seen your airfares decrease lately, as many Americans have, don’t thank the federal government. In fact, Congress imposes so many taxes and fees on air travel that more than 20 percent of the average ticket price is diverted to government coffers. Yet some politicians are pushingto make flying more expensive by increasing the […]
Coalition Calls for Reforming the Highway Trust Fund
While the Highway Trust Fund is used to support highway infrastructure across the country, more than twenty-eight percent of these funds are currently diverted away from roads and bridges. This coalition letter from thirty-six groups calls on reforms to fix an outdated and misused funding mechanism, rather than simply increasing consumer taxes at the […]
Inside Sources: Proposal to Expand Electric Car Subsidies Doubles Down on Failed Policy
A pair of powerful senators, Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, and their allies in the House, are pushing to expand costly and ineffective federal subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs). However, the evidence finds that subsidizing electric vehicles is a bad idea for consumers, taxpayers and the environment. Read about this in Inside Sources.
The Hill: An Unnecessary Increase in Airport Passenger Fees Would Hurt Consumers
Government taxes and fees account for more than one-fifth of the price of a typical domestic flight, making air travel one of the highest-taxed sectors of the American economy. Travelers pay a 7.5 percent excise tax, a $4.10 fee per flight segment, a commercial jet fuel tax, and a $5.60 security fee per flight segment, […]
Increasing the Passenger Facility Charge Would Be Costly to American Travelers
Airports have recently intensified their lobbying efforts to raise the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) – possibly doubling the charge. A new report finds that increasing the PFC would suppress economic activity, reduce consumer benefits by billions of dollars, and cost thousands of jobs. On top of these harmful effects, increasing the PFC is unnecessary. PFC […]
The Hill: Congress Should Take Action to Stop Unfair Taxation of the Digital Economy
Preventing duplicative and discriminatory taxes on digital goods means more money in the pockets of consumers, and more freedom to shop as they choose. To read this opinion piece, visit THE HILL.
Courier Tribune: Mileage-Based Fees Possible Fix for Highway Funding
Unless there is major action in Congress to address dire funding issues, the overall condition of Missouri’s roads and other infrastructure across the country is likely to deteriorate precipitously. Read this op-ed to learn about a new proposal to fund the country’s infrastructure needs.
Cities Eying Food and Beverage Taxes Should Learn from Philadelphia’s Tax Mistake
Local governments considering the imposition of taxes on certain foods and sweetened beverage should take a long look at the tax disaster in Philadelphia. It’s been more than two years since Philadelphia began imposing a massive tax on sweetened beverages, and the bad news just keeps rolling in. Court documents now reveal that one of […]
