FREEDOMWORKS 06/360/2016

Hey Conservatives!
1. Come Together: Donald Trump and Paul Ryan Need to Forge a Tax Alliance - by FreedomWorks Senior Economic Contributor Stephen Moore via Forbes

The tax reform plan released on Thursday by House Ways and Means Committee chairman Kevin Brady and with the blessing of Speaker Paul Ryan, is a thing of economic beauty. It cuts tax rates across the board, eliminates the death tax and the alternative minimum tax, makes the U.S. Corporate tax system competitive and does all this without raising the deficit. Well done.
Now, maybe Donald Trump and Paul Ryan can forge a tax reform alliance that could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. I’ve been part of a team helping refine Mr. Trump’s tax plan, and while the details are still being ironed out, it’s not spilling the beans to say that the two Republican leaders pretty much see eye-to-eye on how to reform the IRS code.
Trump is a supply side tax cutter. Ryan, who worked for Jack Kemp for years, is now carrying his mentor’s torch for lower rates and more growth. Perhaps it’s time for them to put their differences aside and play on the same team.  Read more here...

Obama is proposing a new regulation that would give a huge payday to his trial lawyer buddies. This regulation makes it easier for liberal trial lawyers to file big class action lawsuits, so they can make more money to donate to liberal causes.

And if that’s not bad enough this regulation ensures that actual victims get less money, while Obama’s liberal friends get rich. Don't let that happen.

Contact the Obama Administration and tell them to stand up for you, not the trial lawyers.

2. Hillary Clinton's Tech Platform: Government Meddling for Some; Incentives and Deals for Others - via Reason 

Hillary Clinton has just released a huge policy guide detailing what she's promising to accomplish for the behalf of the tech sector as president. The Washington Post noted that it "reads like a Silicon Valley wish list."
Indeed, it's extremely obvious that parts of the agenda were written by the interests themselves. To wit: "Localities may seek to stimulate more investment by current or new service providers by streamlining permitting processes, allowing nondiscriminatory access to existing infrastructure such as conduits and poles, pursuing 'climb once' policies to eliminate delays, or facilitating demand aggregation." Let's see that get excerpted as a quote in Clinton's Twitter feed.  Read more here...

FreedomWorks' Book Club Spotlight: "Our Lost Constitution: The Willful Subversion of America's Founding Document"

In Our Lost Constitution, Senator Mike Lee tells the dramatic, little-known stories behind six of the Constitution’s most indispensable provisions. He shows their rise. He shows their fall. And he makes vividly clear how nearly every abuse of federal power today is rooted in neglect of this Lost Constitution. Get your copy here...

3. Rep. Paul Gosar Signs FreedomWorks Pro-Growth Pledge

FreedomWorks today announced that Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) signed the Pro-Growth Pledge. The pledge is a statement of principles showing the signer’s commitment to economic growth through fundamental tax reform, reductions in spending, regulatory reform, sound money, energy freedom, and patient-centered health care. Rep. Gosar joins Rep. Dave Brat as a signer.
“This pledge aligns with my track record and my philosophy. Smaller government. More personal freedom. Free markets in health care and other markets,” said Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). “I have been fighting for all of these worthy goals and I appreciate the support FreedomWorks gives me and other conservatives. Together we can win.”
Rep. Gosar signed the Pro-Growth Pledge Wednesday at FreedomWorks’ headquarters. FreedomWorks CEO Adam Brandon praised Rep. Gosar for his work fighting regulatory overreach and continued commitment to economic growth. Read more here...

4. Protecting Privacy and Promoting Inclusion with the 'Internet of Things' - via The Hill

To technologists and innovators, the "Internet of Things" (IoT) represents a world of exciting new benefits that will solve important technical and social problems. To critics, IoT represents a world of pervasive surveillance, with toys that spy on kids and microphone-enabled devices recording and retaining our most personal data. As a think tank focused on helping chief privacy officers of companies both large and small navigate privacy challenges, as well as advocating for ethical data practices in support of emerging technologies, we believe they are both right. From traffic management to healthcare improvements, there is a wide range of possible benefits that will be derived from information networks created by the IoT. There is the potential to improve personal safety, improve public safety, increase consumer convenience, provide environmental benefits and promote business innovation. However, if we do not have the right guiding principles or necessary privacy safeguards, consumers will lose trust in the evolving technologies. We need to address security and privacy issues to ensure that the IoT achieves its full potential.
Recognizing this need, Samsung recently hosted a conference bringing together leaders from both government and industry to discuss the future of IoT. In his opening remarks, Oh-Hyun Kwon, vice chairman and CEO at Samsung Electronics, emphasized that the conversation around the possibilities of IoT should shift from focusing on smart homes, offices and factories, to smart communities, smart nations and a smarter world with better living standards for everyone, everywhere.  Read more here...
5. Time for Justice Reform in Michigan - by Jason Pye via The Detroit News
The 19th century novelist Victor Hugo once said that there’s nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
Justice reform is clearly just such an idea, as evidenced by the Michigan state Senate’s unanimous passage this month of a 20-bill overhaul package designed to reduce recidivism and save state taxpayer dollars.
The legislation, being championed by state Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, would work to reduce parole and probation revocations, standardize the definition of recidivism and offer incentives to people employing parolees.  Read more here...

Jason Pye
Communications Director, FreedomWorks