Katana VentraIP

National Taxpayers Union

The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) is a fiscally conservative taxpayer advocacy organization and taxpayers union in the United States, founded in 1977 by James Dale Davidson. NTU says that it is the oldest taxpayer advocacy organization in the nation. It is closely affiliated with a non-profit foundation, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF).[4][5] The organization has ranked politicians on their perceived fiscal responsibility, in the eyes of the National Taxpayers Union.[6]

Abbreviation

NTU

1977 (1977)

52-1009116[1]

To achieve favorable legislative outcomes using the most powerful, effective pro-taxpayer lobbying team on Capitol Hill and in the states.

362,000

Pete Sepp[2]

Brandon Arnold,
Andrew Moylan,
Leah Vukmir,
Rob Shrum,
Kevin Glass[2]

Robert Solt[3]

National Taxpayers Union Foundation,
Investor Protection[1]

$4,732,347[1]

$4,157,178[1]

$970,135 (2017)

19[1]

150[1]

Policy positions[edit]

The National Taxpayers Union has worked to enact constitutional limits on government taxes, spending and debt. The organization also played a role in Federal income tax indexing It also worked for the passage of a Taxpayer Bill of Rights.


The NTU favors either a Flat Tax or the FairTax (a national sales tax with rebate) for the United States, as opposed to the current income tax system.[7] The organization argues in favor of the line-item veto for the president.[8] NTU generally opposes crop subsidies by the government (such as for sugar and ethanol).[9] The organization's briefs and policy papers oppose the federal estate tax[10] and support deregulation.[11] NTU also provides information on "Congressional & Executive Pay/Perks" (e.g., NTU estimates the public pensions payments for Members of Congress),[12] and NTU has called for reforms to deny a publicly funded pension to Members of Congress convicted of a felony.[13]

– a bill that would suspend the United States debt ceiling until March 15, 2015.[14] The National Taxpayers Union opposed this bill and criticised politicians from both parties saying, "this year, as the limit approached, most Democrats refused to discuss the debt problem at all. Republicans opted to stress important, though mostly unrelated policy goals, thus failing to focus on the key issue at hand."[15] NTU expressed the opinion that spending reforms should be dealt with, instead of just increasing the debt limit.[15]

Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act (S. 540; 113th Congress)

– NTU has been a proponent for a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the Constitution.

Balanced Budget Amendment

Government Spending Transparency – The National Taxpayers Union has been a proponent of the "Google Government" movement. More specifically, the organization calls for the creation of searchable Internet databases that provide information on state government grant and contract expenditures.

NTU is a founding sponsor of www.ShowMeTheSpending.org, a website dedicated to online government spending transparency.


A grade of "A" indicates the organization views the member as a strong supporter of responsible[21][22] tax and spending policies. The organization gives these members of Congress the "Taxpayers' Friend Award."

Americans For Fair Taxation

Americans for Tax Reform

Citizens for Tax Justice

vice president of state affairs for the NTU

Leah Vukmir

– a U.S. national network of free-market oriented think tanks of which NTU is an associate member

State Policy Network

Tax Foundation

Official website

National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)

National Taxpayers Union: Organizational Profile

National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)

National Taxpayers Union Foundation: Organizational Profile

National Taxpayers Union footage on C-SPAN