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CENTER FOR A FREE ECONOMY NEWS
The Center for a Free Economy is actively advocating for common sense legislation that puts taxpayers first.
See below for a recent CFE news.


Senate Lets COVID-Era Obamacare Super Subsidies Expire
Washington keeps reaching for the same failed solution in health care: bigger subsidies for a system that is already too expensive and too insurer-driven. That approach took a hit last week when the U.S. Senate rejected an extension of the COVID-era Obamacare “super subsidies.” The vote was a reminder that affordability will not be fixed by writing bigger checks to big insurance companies. Real reform has to start with empowering patients. As reported by the Associated Press
Ryan Ellis
11 minutes ago2 min read


5 Steps to Lower Health Care Costs
Families need real relief from high health-care costs. They are tired of Washington’s habit of pouring more Obamacare tax dollars into a system that keeps getting more expensive. There is a better way. A new five-point platform from the Committee to Unleash Prosperity shows how we can make care more affordable without writing bigger checks to Big Insurance. Their plan is simple and targeted. It focuses on giving patients more control, expanding choices, and opening the syste
Ryan Ellis
3 days ago2 min read


Obamacare Is Handing Out Tax Credits With No Identity Verification
Families expect federal programs to follow basic rules. They expect taxpayer money to be protected. They expect the government to check whether a person is who they say they are. This week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) showed that the Obamacare marketplace is failing that test in stunning fashion. GAO released the results of a covert audit that should alarm every lawmaker. Investigators created four completely fictitious identities and attempted to enroll them
Ryan Ellis
4 days ago1 min read


Obamacare Fraud Shows Why Real Reform Cannot Wait
A new investigation from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) should be a wake-up call for anyone who still thinks Obamacare is working as promised. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith highlighted the findings in a recent appearance on CNBC , and the results are hard to ignore. Fake applicants were approved. Dead enrollees kept receiving subsidized coverage. One Social Security number was tied to more than 125 different insurance policies. That is not
Ryan Ellis
5 days ago1 min read


Congress Has a Chance to Finally Hold PBMs Accountable
Patients deserve a prescription drug market that is open, honest, and affordable. For too long, pharmacy benefit managers have operated behind a wall of secrecy that hides how they make money and why drug costs keep climbing. The bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Price Transparency and Accountability Act , introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo, offers a clear path to fixing that. This bill tackles one of the biggest drivers of high drug pric
Ryan Ellis
6 days ago2 min read


Now Is the Time for a Second Reconciliation Bill
Washington has a chance to deliver real relief to families who are struggling with high prices and limited choices. Last year’s reconciliation bill made some progress, but it did not finish the job. The Republican Study Committee is right to call this moment what it is: an opportunity to lead and to deliver on the promises made to hardworking families. A second reconciliation bill should focus on three priorities. We need further tax relief. We need patient-centered health c
Ryan Ellis
Dec 82 min read


Washington Faces a Simple Test: Keep Temporary Spending Temporary
The Wall Street Journal reports that Speaker Johnson is signaling caution toward a push to extend the COVID-era boost to Obamacare premium subsidies. That caution is warranted. These subsidies were created as a temporary response to the pandemic, and they should expire on schedule. Conservatives are right to oppose any attempt to extend them. If a program was created as a short-term emergency expense, it needs to remain short term. For years, both parties have papered over f
Ryan Ellis
Dec 51 min read


Trump Takes a Bite Out of Rx Drug Foreign Freeloading
Britain now plans to spend more on new medicines so it can keep tariff-free access to the U.S. market. That simple tradeoff marks real progress. President Trump is pushing a clear message: the era of foreign freeloading on American drug innovation is ending. For years, U.S. patients and taxpayers have shouldered the cost of developing new cures while other countries imposed strict price controls and paid far less. The Wall Street Journal reports that the UK agreed to higher
Ryan Ellis
Dec 41 min read


Momentum Builds for Trump Accounts
Families want a real path to savings, investment, and long-term opportunity. Trump Accounts offer that path, and support for the idea is growing. A recent CNBC report highlighted a major commitment from Michael and Susan Dell to help seed these accounts for millions of children. Their $6.25 billion donation would give 25 million kids an early start on wealth building. The Dell commitment shows that serious private leaders see real potential in Trump Accounts. When investors
Ryan Ellis
Dec 31 min read


The U.S. House Is Voting on the SCORE Act This Week. Conservatives Are United Behind It.
The U.S. House is set to vote this week on H.R. 4312, the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act. This is a chance to bring clarity and common sense to name, image, and likeness rules in college sports, an area that has become chaotic and inconsistent without a national framework. Center for a Free Economy organized a coalition letter urging House leadership to pass the SCORE Act. Many conservative groups joined because student-athlet
Ryan Ellis
Dec 22 min read


The Fed Finally Cuts the Red Tape
The Federal Reserve took an important step by acknowledging that its supervisory process has grown too dense to be useful. That is a welcome shift toward clarity and restraint. The Fed now says banks may not need a 47-page checklist to prove they are doing basic banking. The Associated Press covered the change here . The point is straightforward. More forms do not make the system safer. Clear priorities do. Efficiency is a risk-management tool, and regulators are finally trea
Ryan Ellis
Nov 281 min read


Taxpayers Are Headed for Larger Refunds. Washington Should Not Get in the Way.
Families are stretched thin. Every trip to the grocery store or gas station reminds them that the cost of living climbed faster than their paychecks. So here is one piece of good news that Congress should not ignore: Tax refunds are on track to rise in 2026. A new study from Piper Sandler, using data from the Joint Committee on Taxation, shows what is coming. For the 2026 tax filing season, taxpayers are expected to take home an additional $91 billion in refunds. Workers will
Ryan Ellis
Nov 251 min read


Tariffs Didn’t Fix the Trade Deficit. They Just Made Life More Expensive.
Families feel the squeeze every time they shop for groceries, buy school supplies, or pay the monthly bills. Politicians promised that new tariffs would bring back jobs, lower costs, and shrink the trade deficit. They said tariffs were the cure. They were not. The numbers tell the real story. Creative Planning looked at U.S. trade data through the first eight months of each year. In 2024, America ran a $571 billion trade deficit. One year later, that deficit did not shrink.
Ryan Ellis
Nov 242 min read


Why is Congress Ignoring a Health Care Cost Saver Hiding in Plain Sight?
Most families feel squeezed every time they look at their health insurance bill. Premiums keep climbing, choices keep shrinking, and Washington keeps pretending that Obamacare is the only game in town. It is not. Congress can act right now to make health insurance about 60 percent less expensive for millions of people. The solution already exists. Lawmakers only need to lock it in. A few years ago, the Trump administration created a regulation that allowed people to buy short
Ryan Ellis
Nov 212 min read


Conservative Groups Push Congress to Pass Common Sense PBM Reforms
Two dozen conservative groups sent the following letter to Congressional leadership. The text of the letter is below: The undersigned...
Ryan Ellis
Sep 233 min read


Conservative Groups Push Back Against Big Government Collusion with Non-Profit Hospital Networks
The following letter (signed by over 40 conservative groups including the Center for a Free Economy, Americans for Tax Reform, National...
Ryan Ellis
Jul 232 min read


Center for a Free Economy Keyvotes H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Endorsement letter is here . The Center for a Free Economy is pleased to endorse H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).” The...
Ryan Ellis
Jul 22 min read


U.S. House Should Pass the Budget Reconciliation Bill Before the Memorial Day Recess
The U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up to pass the "One, Big, Beautiful" budget reconciliation bill. It's a conservative bill...
Ryan Ellis
May 162 min read


U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Passes "One Big Beautiful Bill" for Taxpayers
This week, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee passed out of committee tax reform legislation to make permanent and broaden the Tax...
Ryan Ellis
May 143 min read


Why Congress Must Pass the Tax Reform Bill for Economic Growth
This week, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee will advance tax reform legislation to make permanent and broaden the Tax Cuts and...
Ryan Ellis
May 123 min read


Congressional Democrats Should Stop Lying About Medicaid
Congressional Democrats should stop lying about Medicaid.
Ryan Ellis
May 52 min read


Conservative Groups and Main Street Employers Oppose Business SALT Pay-for in Tax Reform
We write today in opposition to any limits on the ability of businesses to deduct state and local taxes paid, unless offset dollar for dollar by new, broad-based, and permanent pro-growth tax reforms.
Ryan Ellis
Apr 303 min read


U.S. House Needs to Pass the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill to keep the government operating for the remainder of the fiscal year (that...
Ryan Ellis
Mar 112 min read


Congress Must Investigate California's Abuse of Medicaid Reimbursements
Dear Chairman Guthrie, Chairman Carter, Chairwoman Kiggans: In the wake of President Donald Trump’s sweeping mandate to increase...
Ryan Ellis
Mar 43 min read


The Center for a Free Economy Urges Congress to Investigate California’s Abuse of Federal Medicaid Intergovernmental Transfers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2025 –The Center for a Free Economy today sent a letter to Representatives Brett Guthrie, Chairman of House Energy...
Ryan Ellis
Mar 42 min read


Conservative Coalition Leaders Support PBM Reforms
Ryan Ellis February 24, 2025 Nearly two dozen conservative groups sent a letter to Congress today urging passage of common sense...
Ryan Ellis
Feb 242 min read


U.S. House Should Pass Budget Resolution This Week
Ryan Ellis February 24, 2025 This week, the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on a budget resolution, which itself will create...
Ryan Ellis
Feb 241 min read


Business Salt and Tax Reform
Ryan Ellis February 24, 2025 I recently co-authored a piece with Stuart Leblang and Amy Elliott from Akin where we explored the current...
Ryan Ellis
Feb 246 min read


Conservatives Urge President Trump to Save US Steel
Top conservative groups have sent a joint letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve the sale of US Steel to Nippon Steel.
Ryan Ellis
Feb 33 min read


CFE Urges Trump to Freeze Biden's Midnight Regulations on Rx Drug Price Controls in Medicare
The following letter was sent today to President Trump: Today, the Biden Administration exposed 15 Medicare prescription medicines to...
Ryan Ellis
Jan 171 min read


Conservative Coalition Leaders Support PBM Reforms This Congress
Nearly two dozen conservative groups sent a letter to Congress today urging passage of common sense legislation to reform some of the...
Ryan Ellis
Dec 9, 20242 min read


Coalition Letter Opposing Inflation Reduction Act Prescription Drug Price Controls
Ryan Ellis Conservative leaders and free market advocates representing associations across the country send a letter to Speaker Johnson...
Ryan Ellis
Jun 25, 20245 min read


Dear Sec. Yellen, the Nippon-US Steel Deal Needs to Go Through
A coalition of 43 free-market, conservative, and individual liberty organizations wrote a letter to Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen to...
CFE Team
Mar 15, 20241 min read


85 Conservative Groups Call on Congress to Repeal Joe Biden's 95 Percent Tax on Prescription Drugs
Ryan Ellis, President 85 conservative groups today sent a letter to the bipartisan Congressional leadership urging them to repeal...
Ryan Ellis
Dec 8, 20232 min read


70 Conservative Groups Oppose Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan's Extreme M&A Handcuffs
Ryan Ellis 70 conservative groups sent a joint letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair Lina Khan urging her to abandon her highly...
Ryan Ellis
Sep 20, 20231 min read


Joe Biden's 95% Drug Tax That You Didn't Know About
Ryan Ellis, National Review Online Link Now, the cost of living may be going higher for some prescription medicines for seniors....
Ryan Ellis
Sep 20, 20231 min read


Do you use apps like Apple Pay or Etsy? You could be seeing new taxes soon.
Ryan Ellis, published in The Hill Link The National Taxpayers Union Foundation recently updated a 1099-K study that projects 14 million...
Ryan Ellis
Sep 20, 20231 min read


Conservative Leaders Call on Congress to End IRS Snooping of Venmo and Online Platform Sales
Ryan Ellis April 20, 2023 Over 80 conservative leaders signed onto a letter to Congressional tax writers urging them to end the looming...
Ryan Ellis
May 2, 20232 min read


70 Conservative Leaders Demand that Congress Address Nightmare IRS 1099-K Tax Form Debacle
Ryan Ellis The leaders of over 70 conservative and free-market organizations today sent a joint letter to the chairmen and ranking...
Ryan Ellis
Aug 9, 20223 min read


America Has an Overspending Problem, Not an Undertaxing Problem
Ryan Ellis I'm a few days late on this, but here is my latest in National Review Online on the new Congressional Budget Office baseline,...
Ryan Ellis
Jun 9, 20221 min read


80 Conservative Groups Unite in Opposition to 95% Tax on Prescription Medicines
Ryan Ellis 80 national and state conservative organizations today came together in opposition to a proposed 95 percent excise tax on...
Ryan Ellis
Jun 7, 20221 min read


Republican Study Committee Budget Has the Right Tax Policy to Beat Inflation and Restore Prosperity
Ryan Ellis The Republican Study Committee this week will unveil their annual alternative budget. Most of the attention is rightly focused...
Ryan Ellis
Jun 7, 20222 min read


Coalition Letter To FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf M.D.
Conservative leaders and free market advocates representing associations across the country sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert M....
CFE Team
Apr 5, 20221 min read


Coalition Letter Opposing FCC Nomination of Gigi Sohn
Conservative leaders and free market advocates representing associations across the country sent a letter to the Chairs of the Committee...
Center for a Free Economy
Feb 1, 20221 min read


Coalition Letter To Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona
Conservative leaders and free market advocates representing associations across the country sent a letter to Department of Education...
CFE Team
Nov 2, 20211 min read


CFE Supports the Tax Gap Reform and IRS Enforcement Act
The Center for a Free Economy is proud to support the Tax Gap Reform and IRS Enforcement Act. Congressional Democrats' answer to...
CFE Team
Sep 13, 20211 min read


More Money to the IRS for Predatory Audits? Hell, No
By Ryan Ellis Every other week, it seems, the leftist tax-exempt nonprofit Pro Publica (which poses as a media outlet) publishes another...
CFE Team
Jul 13, 20214 min read


CFE Launches Video Series "So Here's The Good News"
On June 9, Center for a Free Economy (CFE) launched So Here’s the Good News , a video series designed to simplify tax policy with real...
CFE Team
Jun 7, 20211 min read


CFE President Ryan Ellis Featured on The Larry O’Connor Show
On May 14, CFE President Ryan Ellis was featured on The Larry O’Connor Show as a kick-off for Tax Day 2021. The two started by discussing...
CFE Team
May 17, 20211 min read


Coalition Letter Opposes H.R.3 to Protect American Patients
Conservative leaders and free market advocates representing associations across the country sent a letter to Leader Schumer, Speaker...
CFE Team
May 17, 20211 min read
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