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News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget, Food, Tax

Ag Subsidies Pay for 21 Twinkies per Taxpayer, But Only Half of an Apple Apiece

Federal subsidies for commodity crops are subsidizing junk food additives like high fructose corn syrup, enough to pay for 21 Twinkies per taxpayer every year, according to MASSPIRG’s new report, Apples to Twinkies 2012. “This is ridiculous,”  said MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director, Deirdre Cummings. “First, we are giving taxpayer subsidies to mature, profitable industries while struggling with how to reduce the nation’s record level of debt.  That is bad enough, but in addition, the billions of taxpayer supported subsides are then used to subside junk food—even as our childhood obesity rates are going through the roof. With the Farm Bill about to be reauthorized, it’s time to end this waste.”

News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget, Tax

Recipients of Corporate Tax Breaks Revealed

MASSPIRG praised today’s release by the Department of Revenue detailed information about  who receives some $170 million in certain corporate tax breaks. 

“This is great news,” said Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director for MASSPIRG, “any investment of public dollars in private enterprises must be held to the highest level of transparency and accountability. The legislature and the Administration should be commended for their leadership in making government spending more transparent and accountable.”

News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget

Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director, Comments on Recently Approved Tax Expenditure Commission Report

MASSPIRG commends the work of the bi-partisan Tax  Expenditure Commission and the approval of their final report today which will be filed in the legislature before April 30, 2012.

Media Hit | Budget, Tax

Taunton Daily Gazette - The real cost of off- shore tax havens

Many Americans would be shocked to hear about an invisible tax burden put on them this year by some of the largest, most profitable corporations that use offshore tax havens to avoid paying their full tax bill. This tax dodging costs taxpayers an estimated $100 billion every single year.

News Release | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget, Tax

Average Massachusetts Taxpayer Would Have to Pay $636 to Make Up for Offshore Tax Haven Abuse, Small Businesses, $3,349

“When corporations shirk their tax burden by shifting profits legitimately made in the U.S. to offshore tax havens like the Caymans, the rest of us must pick up the tab through either cuts to public spending priorities, higher taxes, or more debt...”

Report | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget, Tax

Picking up the Tab

Some U.S.-based multinational firms or individuals avoid paying U.S. taxes by transferring their earnings to tax haven countries with minimal or no taxes. These tax haven users benefit from their access to America’s markets, workforce, infrastructure and security; but they pay little or nothing for it—violating the basic fairness of the tax system and forcing other taxpayers to pick up the tab. Even when tax haven abusers act perfectly legally, they force other Americans to shoulder the burden in a variety of ways - by other Americans paying higher taxes, coping with cuts to public spending priorities, or increasing the federal debt.

News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget, Tax

Ryan Budget a Windfall for Special Interests, Devastating to Public Priorities

Statement of MASSPIRG Legislative Director on the Federal FY 2013 budget proposed by Chairman Paul Ryan (Wisconsin) of the House Budget Committee.

News Release | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget, Tax

New Report: Massachusetts Receives an “A-” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

“Massachusetts has moved to the head of the class when it comes to providing the public with easy-to-use, one-stop, comprehensive and timely information about how government spends our tax dollars,” said Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director of MASSPIRG.

Report | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget, Tax

Following the Money 2012

The ability to see how government uses the public purse is fundamental to democracy. Transparency in government spending promotes fiscal responsibility, checks corruption, and bolsters public confidence

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