The Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation, joined by more than 30 of the country’s largest and most influential free-market groups, announced opposition to U.S. subsidies for the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The organizations, which participate in a Coalition for Tax Competition, shared their views with Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia. Both lawmakers serve as Chairmen of their respective Appropriations Subcommittees in charge of funding Commerce, State and Justice. Most OECD funding comes from the Department of State.
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October 20, 2004
Senator Judd Gregg
304 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Representative Frank Wolf
241 Cannon House Office Building
United States House
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senator Gregg and Representative Wolf,
Federal spending is too high and should be reduced. As part of an overall effort to help control the size of government, we believe American taxpayers should not subsidize the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Even if we had a balanced budget, OECD funding would deserve scrutiny. The Paris-based bureaucracy increasingly promotes economic policies that are contrary to America’s interests. We are particularly disturbed that the OECD has a “harmful tax competition” project that seeks to hinder the flow of jobs and capital to low-tax nations. And since the United States is the world’s biggest beneficiary of international capital flows and tax competition, it certainly seems ill advised for the American taxpayer to finance this effort.
Reductions in OECD funding also could be augmented by restrictions that withhold funds until and unless anti-US policies are suspended. Simply stated, if international bureaucracies want to pursue interventionist policies, they should not expect American taxpayers to pick up the tab.
We look forward to working with you to bring spending under control and to making sure that US tax dollars are allocated in ways that advance America’s interests.
Sincerely,
Andrew F. Quinlan — President, Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation
Daniel J. Mitchell — Senior Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
Veronique de Rugy — Adjunct Scholar, The Cato Institute
Robert E. Bauman — Legal Counsel, The Sovereign Society
Daniel Clifton — Executive Director, American Shareholders Association
Ryan Ellis — Executive Director, Alliance for Worker Freedom
Stephen J. Entin — President, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation
Paul J. Gessing — Director of Government Affairs, National Taxpayers Union
Tom Giovanetti — President, Institute for Policy Innovation
John C. Goodman — President, National Center for Policy Analysis
Kevin Hassett — Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
Lawrence Hunter — Chief Economist, FreedomWorks
Charles W. Jarvis — Chairman, USA Next
David A. Keene — Chairman, American Conservative Union
Karen Kerrigan — President & CEO, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Thomas P. Kilgannon — President, Freedom Alliance
Michelle Korsmo — Vice President, Americans for Prosperity Foundation
Lisa Mac Lellan — Vice President of Public Policy, Pacific Research Institute
James L. Martin — President, 60 Plus Association
Steve Moore — President, The Club for Growth
Grover Glenn Norquist — President, Americans for Tax Reform
Duane Parde — Executive Director, American Legislative Exchange Council
Nancy M. Pfotenhauer — President, Independent Women’s Forum
Don Racheter — President, Public Interest Institute
Richard W. Rahn — Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute
Terrence Scanlon — President, Capital Research Center
Tom Schatz — President, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
David Strom — President, Taxpayers League of Minnesota
Lewis K. Uhler — President, National Tax Limitation Committee
Paul M. Weyrich — Chairman and CEO, Free Congress Foundation
Neal C. White — President, National Retail Sales Tax Alliance
Jason F. Wright — Vice President, Frontiers of Freedom Foundation
* Organizations listed for identification purposes only
