34 QUESTIONS EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD ASK THEIR REPRESENTATIVES

You voted. Now what?

Before supporting a new law, tax, government program, or public debt, ask:

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY

  1. What constitutional authority gives government the power to do this?
  2. Is this responsibility specifically assigned to this level of government?
  3. If it is not an enumerated responsibility, why should government be doing it?

TAXES AND GOVERNMENT SPENDING

  1. Who pays for this proposal, who benefits from it, and who assumes the financial risk if it fails?
  2. Is the tax temporary or permanent?
  3. If it is temporary, what is the specific expiration date?
  4. Does this proposal create a new tax or fee to replace an existing tax or fee?
  5. Before asking taxpayers for additional money, what existing spending has been examined for elimination, consolidation, competitive contracting, or greater efficiency?
  6. If a government program fails to accomplish its stated purpose, will funding end—or will taxpayers simply be asked for more money?

PROPERTY TAXES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP

  1. Do you support ending recurring property taxes on owner-occupied primary residences?
  2. If property taxes are eliminated, what is your plan for replacing the necessary revenue?
  3. What government spending would you reduce, eliminate, consolidate, or restructure before considering replacement taxes?
  4. What protections would prevent government from simply shifting the same financial burden to another tax, fee, assessment, or charge?
  5. Do you believe a person who has completely paid for a home should be able to lose that home solely because of an inability to continue paying a recurring tax on its ownership?

GOVERNMENT DEBT

  1. What specific purpose does this debt serve?
  2. What is the total cost to taxpayers, including interest?
  3. What is the final date on which the debt will be completely paid off?
  4. Is money being set aside in advance for predictable expenses and economic downturns rather than repeatedly turning to taxpayers for additional revenue?

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

  1. Can taxpayers easily see where their money comes from and exactly where it goes?
  2. Are budgets, contracts, debts, expenditures, tax collections, and program-performance information available to the public in usable digital formats?
  3. Can an ordinary citizen understand the information without being a government accountant or financial expert?
  4. Are government claims about costs, savings, performance, and results supported by evidence taxpayers can independently examine?
  5. If a contractor, company, or organization receives taxpayer money in exchange for promised results, are there clawback provisions allowing taxpayers to recover that money when those promises are not delivered?

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

  1. How will we determine whether this program is actually working?
  2. What measurable results must it achieve?
  3. When will those results be reviewed?
  4. If the program fails, what mechanism allows it to be reduced or eliminated?
  5. Does the government's authority to operate the program continue indefinitely, or does it include a sunset provision requiring the program to be periodically reviewed and affirmatively renewed?

FAIRNESS

  1. Are taxpayers treated equally under the policy, or does government create different rules, benefits, or burdens for different groups?
  2. Does the proposal protect genuine private ownership, or does continued ownership depend upon making perpetual payments to government?

THE FINAL QUESTIONS

  1. Can you explain this proposal—and its complete cost—to the taxpayers who will pay for it?
  2. Can taxpayers independently verify what you are telling them?
  3. If the proposal doesn't work as promised, who is accountable?
  4. And before asking taxpayers for more money:

What have you done to spend the money we have already given you more efficiently?



Ask the questions. Demand answers. Hold government accountable.

Support Policy NOT Politicians

Americas Policy Institute

Download 34 Questions