By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  May 29th at 03:18 PM  | 

Far too often, government has looked to excessively regulate immigration into this country. However, to date there has been no true “conservative” immigration plan. The “Leave Us Alone” principle many conservatives adopt towards government, and its role in governing, seem to be forgotten when discussing “conservative” immigration policy. Conservatives argue it is not the role of government to be involved in “X”. Whether is be | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  April 28th at 02:51 PM  | 

Dear Senator Specter, WHY? Sincerely, Republican Hope

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  April 23rd at 07:58 PM  | 

How about paying tax on that 99-cent music download? The new pair of shoes you just ordered online? What about a tax on viewing online streaming videos? That’s right – the effort to tax binary code is underway. For years, the internet has flourished as a free marketplace where the only extra cost a consumer pays for is shipping – unless you buy the product | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  April 16th at 03:17 PM  | 

With just about every move by the Federal Government having the average American scratching their head, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) has decided to begin their own series titled “REALLY!?!? with American for Tax Reform” modeled after the famous Saturday Night Live sketches. Every week, ATR will find the most mind-boggling move committed by the ever-growing, ever-taxing, ever-spending group of thinkers that roam | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  April 9th at 03:30 PM  | 

The recent push to “go green” by many industries in America was a theme that echoed throughout President Obama’s endless campaign rhetoric. However, what Obama didn’t tell his listeners was just exactly who America would be “partnering” up with to make this dream a reality. Let there be no doubt that the need to look to alternative energy is real, as well as making use | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  March 26th at 11:09 PM  | 

A new blog series created at Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) called, “I Told You So” pokes fun at the outrageous policies being implemented at the federal and state level. These common sense posts draw very simple, but obvious conclusions on several policy issues. What’s great about this new series, it allows people to see the fact that ATR has notified members of | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  March 2nd at 05:51 PM  | 

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, DC this past week, conservatives young and old gathered to discuss strategy and show-off their latest innovations. I was asked to talk very very briefly about “card check” and the Employee Free Choice Act. Here’s the clip! Or click here to visit AWF’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/workerfreedom.

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  February 25th at 04:01 PM  | 

Dear Gov. Jindal – What happened? Sincerely, Republican Hope PS – In all due respect, we love what you’re doing in New Orleans…but wow, that was unfortunate.

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  February 24th at 03:08 PM  | 

If you’re like me, you wish there was something to do while listening to the Obama-ganda tonight. Well now there is. From the people who brought you the Taxpayer Protection Pledge (which almost saved California from higher taxes), and the famous “Wednesday Meeting“, comes a new play-at-home game that is fun for the whole family. Americans for Tax Reform, providing wholesome family fun since 1984, | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  December 11th at 12:29 PM  | 

If you were good this Christmas, you might get candy or that new toy you wanted. For those who were a bit naughty, the presents might resemble lumps of coal or switches. But what do you get if you were very naughty…but…happened to give $600 million to the left? Well, Santas Pelosi and Reid will probably give you whatever you wanted. Oh, and I am | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  December 10th at 12:51 PM  | 

On 12/02/08, the Heritage Foundation released a document entitled, “Ensuring Access to Affordable Health Insurance—A Memo to President-Elect Obama,” written by Stuart Butler and Nina Owcharenko. It’s a serious document, and one which Heritage hopes will serve as a keynote for conservative action on health care reform over the next four years.  Let’s take a look at what they have to say. Heritage has a | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  December 2nd at 10:53 AM  | 

As if anyone needed any more proof that Governors Perry (R-TX) and Sanford (R-SC) are anything less than awesome, they go on WSJ and condemn the state bailouts…awesome! In a blog post today, ATR says In today’s WSJ, Perry and Sanford express their opposition to state bailouts saying: “Our Founding Fathers were clear and deliberate in setting up a system whereby the federal government would | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  November 18th at 10:15 AM  | 

Today is the 30th birthday of government driven ethanol mandates – so Happy Birthday inefficiency and command-and-control energy policies! I for one will be celebrating this at a press conference at the National Press Club as part of a Food Before Fuel campaign. First, let’s a take a moment to examine this situation. The government wants people to use cleaner fuels – ok, nothing wrong | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  November 17th at 06:19 PM  | 

Influential DC insider Grover Norquist is known for many things. Being president of ATR, sitting on the board of the NRA, and running the famous Wednesday meeting. However after today, there might be another point added to that list. According to The Washington Times, Grover Norquist sent a letter to the Treasury Department asking the government to give him the $700 billion. An excerpt from | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  November 12th at 11:45 AM  | 

Below are some various trends and stats that I have compiled from the 2008 Presidential election. Surprisingly, the Catholic shift. Not surprising, the immigration shift. Talk about messaging. Seriously, just take Latino immigrants. Catholic, family-centric, hard-working, familiar with small businesses, and until we piss them off, most likely to be Center-Right. What happens when we do make them mad by, oh, I don’t know, coming | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  November 4th at 11:06 AM  | 

As you know, this election decides many things: Do unions become puppet masters of Congress and the White House? Will our taxes go up? What about my 401(k) stability? Healthcare? Immigration? And more… Well, ATR has put together some educational voter guides on energy, taxes and labor. Enjoy! McCain vs. Obama on Energy Taxes McCain vs. Obama on Taxes: Which April 15 would you rather | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  October 27th at 11:12 AM  | 

Guess what…If Barack Obama’s tax hike had been in place since 2001, he would have paid over $250,000 more in income taxes than he actually did. This assumes that the 33% bracket stayed at 36%, and that the 35% bracket stayed at 39.6%. Here’s the breakdown: 2001 – $420 2002 – $585 2003 – $910 2004 – $0 2005 – $60,257 2006 – $27,002 2007 | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  October 22nd at 02:51 PM  | 

Recently, in Human Events and in the DC Examiner I have referred to this election as the “Worker Freedom” election – indicating that this election will either make-it-or-break-it for Big Labor. Yet with the millions, or even billions, of dollars the business community and some trade associations represent, this election should not be the worker freedom election. Why? Because presumably, businesses (represented by the business | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  October 15th at 11:37 AM  | 

This election has been called many things. Grover Norquist has called it the “401(k) Election.” Some groups are calling it the “Take Back the Flag Election.” However the Alliance for Worker Freedom is calling it the “Worker Freedom Election.” Yesterday, AWF released a 15-variable matrix that compares John McCain and Barack Obama on issues concerning labor, trade, unions and, well, for lack of a better | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  October 10th at 09:47 AM  | 

If George McGovern went on the record today, as opposing card check, supporting states rights, supporting the Health Care Choice Act and signed ATR’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising not to raise taxes…would you vote for him? Given the current climate today, I would have to think long and hard about that one. However, my current leanings are more toward the “yes” side than the “no”. | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  October 9th at 01:36 PM  | 

Americans for Tax Reform just hosted a conference call with Dr. John Rutledge of Rutledge Capital, Grover Norquist and Ryan Ellis (the “tax earmark warrior”). Here’s how it works, you type in the current value of your 401(k) and the calculator takes the McCain and Obama tax plans and treatments of stocks and assets and applies them to your value. And voila…there you have it. | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  October 2nd at 04:01 PM  | 

I was shocked to read this morning that [Michelle Malkin] (http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/01/mccain-will-support-earmark-stuffed-senate-crap-sandwich/), in her totally legitimate opposition to the bailout, equated tax cuts with spending increases. The New York Post did the same thing on their [cover] (http://www.nypost.com/seven/10022008/frontback.htm). Scarborough was positively livid this morning on Morning Joe. What the hell is going on here? In an effort to get the bailout through, the Senate appended to | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  October 1st at 12:30 PM  | 

So…recently there has been some discussion about “tax earmarks” and the Senate “bailout” package. First of all, (must restrain the cursing), what in the world is a “tax earmark”? Who ever heard of such a term. That is as confusing as Stephen Colbert pretending to be a conservative; it makes my head spin! This has sent a mini-fracture through some parts of the center-right, fiscal | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  September 30th at 01:05 PM  | 

According to Ryan Ellis, who runs the American Shareholders Association and serves as ATR‘s Tax Policy Director, the failed “bailout” is a great opportunity for Republicans…if we just don’t blow it! Rellis says: There have been a lot of calls since the bailout failure yesterday for this-or-that public figure to resign, etc. Instead of engaging in useless displays of rhetoric, conservatives need to get behind | Read More »

By: Brian M. Johnson (Diary)  |  September 26th at 01:34 PM  | 

Friends of ATR Blog posted this faux letter to Sen. Reid today, (I dare someone to send it – just kidding!) Senate voted today, 52-42 against Sen Reid’s Second Stimulus today that included a ban on shale oil, ouch. Dear Sen. Reid, Man, tough loss, that must really hurt. But hey, not everyone wants to keep Americans broke. You know, that $5 a gallon stuff | Read More »