National Taxpayers Union

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Headquarters	Alexandria, VA
Website	http://www.ntu.org

National Taxpayers Union (NTU) is a taxpayers advocacy organization in the United States, founded in 1969 by James Dale Davidson. It is closely affiliated with a non-profit foundation, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF). According to the Form 990 returns of NTUF, the NTU and NTUF share staff, facilities, website and board members.^{[citation needed]}

1 Policy positions
2 Activities
3 History
4 See also
5 References
6 Links

[edit] Policy positions

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, so inflation no longer bumps taxpayers into higher brackets. 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 now in use.^[1] The organization argues in favor of the line-item veto for the president. ^[2] NTU generally opposes crop subsidies by the government (such as for sugar and ethanol).^[3] The organization's briefs and policy papers decry the so-called "death tax," (a tax on estates)^[4] and supports deregulation.^[5]

[edit] Activities

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

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 Rates Congress - NTU rates U.S. Representatives and Senators on their congressional votes. NTU assignes weights to the votes, reflecting the importance of each vote's effect on federal spending, when calculating each officials score.

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

Senator Jim DeMint receives Taxpayers' Friend Award, 2007

Research - NTU writes policy papers on many subjects they view as important to the taxpayer. The organization also sends issue briefs to its members throughout the country outlining topics and issues that might be of interest to them.

[edit] History

James Dale Davidson began the organization in 1969 as a way to launch a career in elective politics, but decided to stay with the organization rather than pursue politics.^{[citation needed]}

In 1970, Davidson hired A. Earnest Fitzgerald, a United States Air Force analyst, as the president of NTU. In 1978, Grover Norquist, was named executive director; after his departure in 1982, he was replaced by former Maryland State Senate Majority Leader George Snyder.

In 1997, Davidson left NTU; John Berthoud was named president and served until his death in late 2007.

Duane Parde was named president of the organization following the death of Berthoud.