Paul Blair, Washington Examiner

Paul Blair

Washington Examiner

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Recent:
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Past:
  • Washington Examiner
  • ATR

Past articles by Paul:

Banning flavored e-cigarettes might cost Trump reelection

In a striking blow to common sense and the well-being of millions of people, President Trump announced Wednesday that his administration would be moving forward on rules to prohibit the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes. This misguided move will kill more than 10,000 small businesses, eliminate nearly 90,000 jobs, and force millions of adults who use e-cigarettes to reduce and eliminate their… → Read More

Texas, don't even think about importing California's rail disaster

Last week, the Trump administration fulfilled yet another promise when it canceled nearly $1 billion in taxpayer funding for California’s high-speed rail project between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In the midst of yet another infamous Infrastructure Week, this announcement was an important development in the effort to ensure that when it comes to the allocation of public resources, taxpayers… → Read More

Local Puerto Rican governments are extorting American taxpayers

In the aftermath of the historic devastation imposed by hurricanes last year, several Puerto Rican towns refused to let a good crisis go to waste. New tax notices issued by at least eight Puerto Rico municipalities show that local governments are trying to scam federal taxpayers into sending them a bigger piece of federal relief funds. → Read More

Trump's FDA may finally end Obama's war on vaping

For more than a year, the Food and Drug Administration has hung the start-up vapor industry out to dry with anticipation for a more sane and rational approach to the regulation of electronic cigarettes. Last week, the FDA finally announced steps geared towards making it easier to bring new products… → Read More

Stop trying to make the carbon tax a thing

One week after President Trump’s inauguration, the calls began anew for a carbon tax. Leading the charge for a new national energy tax were former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, former Secretaries of State George Shultz and Jim Baker – all of whom served under Republican presidents. The Left,… → Read More

Coal and nuclear power plants are failing thanks to green subsidies and mandates

Policymakers should seek solutions that promote the reliability and affordability of the country’s power markets. A good start is eliminating every single green energy subsidy and mandate that got us here in the first place. → Read More

The crusade against JUUL and other vaping products is childish, even for tobacco control

In the last week alone, Time, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, NBC News, and dozens of local papers and news broadcasters have run hit pieces on America’s most popular electronic cigarette, JUUL. This moral panic isn’t organic. It is a coordinated attack orchestrated by nanny-state activists funded by the likes of Mike Bloomberg. These crusaders are doing a great disservice to… → Read More

Fast-growing green energy 'scam' puts taxpayers and homeowners at risk

State governments and Congress should rein in this government program to protect taxpayers from energy efficiency goals run amuck. → Read More

Virginia governor's race pits tax-hiker Ralph Northam against reformer Ed Gillespie

This race is about whether Virginia taxpayers are interested in tax relief or would like to reward a candidate who championed one of the lar... → Read More

A grassroots petition seeks to rein in Obama's war on vaping

The millions of adults who vape and the thousands of new independent businesses that sell vapor products, however, aren't sitting on the sid... → Read More

ATR

ATR Opposes Oroho-Sarlo Gas Tax Hike in New Jersey

Proponents of big and unreformed government in the Garden State are demanding hundreds of millions of dollars in tax hikes as part of a proposal to fund the now-broke Transportation Trust Fund (TFF). → Read More

ATR

ATR Launches Campaign to Defeat Vapor Products Tax Hike in Pennsylvania

On the heels of a July 1 deadline for the FY 2016-2016 budget, legislative leaders and Governor Tom Wolf (D-Pa.) are in the final stretch on deciding the size of the annual budget and whether tax hikes will be an element of the deal. Unlike last year, broad based tax increases including the sales and income tax seem to be off the table. → Read More

ATR

West Virginia Legislature Passes Massive New Tax on Vapor Products

In a Special Budget Session, the West Virginia House of Delegates and state Senate voted to subject electronic cigarettes and vapor products to a new, onerous excise tax. → Read More

ATR

ATR Urges West Virginia Lawmakers to Rein in Spending During Special Budget Session

As the West Virginia legislature enters the second week of deliberations during the 2016 Special Session, Americans for Tax Reform is urging lawmakers to focus on spending restraint instead of tax increases to address the state's $270 million shortfall. Unfortunately, Gov. → Read More

ATR

ATR Supports Predicate Date Change in the Tobacco Control Act

The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations will begin markup on the 2017 Agriculture Bill tomorrow, representing a significant opportunity to halt the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) overregulation of vapor products in the United States. An amendment to the bill, proposed by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) will change what is known as the “predicate date” for tobacco products that have hit the… → Read More

ATR

Oklahoma Lawmakers Playing Primary Politics with Tax Hikes

In a stunning admission of tactics surrounding an effort to raise taxes in the Sooner State, Gov. Mary Fallin (R-Okl.) recently acknowledged that state lawmakers are postponing a public vote on her proposed tax hikes until after the candidate filing deadline has passed. "I think there are some members who are waiting to see if they draw an opponent during filing in April," Fallin said when asked… → Read More

ATR

Clarification on ATR's Support for Solar Market Reform Efforts in Maine

In 2015, the Maine legislature passed a bill that required the development of an alternative pricing model for solar customers in the state by the end of 2016. Legislators have been working with the private sector over the past year to meet that mandate. → Read More

ATR

It’s Time for Presidential Candidates to Weigh In on the Overregulation of Vapor Products

When the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) designates that a federal regulation or rule is significant, or having an effect on the economy of more than $100 million, the agency must send a report to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and both houses of Congress. This requirement was signed into law in 1996 in the form of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), and it allows… → Read More

ATR

Governor Cuomo’s Budget Proposal Stands to Destroy Market for Prescription Drug Innovation

In his 2016-2017 budget, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) recently proposed not only significantly intrusive disclosure requirements for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries but price controls on the drugs they sell to consumers. This proposal is the latest in a misdirected anti-free market campaign to get to the bottom of rising health care and prescription drug costs in the United States. It… → Read More

ATR

ATR Opposes Using Tax Hikes to Fix West Virginia's Overspending Problem

With less than two weeks remaining in West Virginia's 2016 Regular Legislative Session, budget work continues as part of an effort to address a $400 million overspending problem in this fiscal year. The new Republican majority has made great strides in protecting taxpayers and workers in the Mountain State this year, passing a repeal of the state prevailing wage law and making West Virginia the… → Read More