Increasing the Private Sector Economy 1-1-25

It is way past time to review government funded operations that can be handled by corporations in the Private Sector. 

Privatizing the US Post Office is an obvious candidate for privatization.  In 1800, the Federal Government needed to provide a way for US citizens and businesses to communicate. Now there are multiple ways to communicate.

There is no justification to keep Amtrak. All other railroads are in the Private Sector.

There is no justification to keep the Tennessee Valley Authority. All other electricity producers are in the Private Sector.

There is no justification to keep the Interior Department land holdings. Federal Land is 30% of the US Landmass and costs $62.9B a year. Federal Land should be limited to Military Testing Grounds. National Parks should be funded through the States.

There is no justification to keep Transportation costs in the Federal Budget. States should fund their own Highway and Bridge Maintenance and State Road Construction without Federal Grants. Cities and Counties should fund their own Road and Bridge Maintenance and Construction costs without Federal Grants.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has several categories of costs for 2024, including: 

The FAA will receive $5 billion in advance appropriations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This, combined with the President's Budget, will total $24.8 billion for improving the safety and efficiency of airports. 

The Federal Highway Administration will receive $60.8 billion, including: 

$3.1 billion for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) 

$29.6 billion for the National Highway Performance Program 

$1.8 billion for the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program 

Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs: The budget for this category is $435,000. 

Motor Carrier Safety Grants: The budget for this category is $516,300. 

Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP): The budget for this category is $406,500. 

Fines: The DOT has increased its maximum fines by 3.2% for 2024. This increase applies to all fines levied by DOT agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). All States compete with each other for business and should fund their own infrastructure. Federal Grants for 12-foot wide multi-use paths and “greenspace” should end.

The IRS has 90,000 employees and spends $12.3B per year. This mess could be eliminated by adopting a “flat tax”.

Federal Grants to Non-Profit NGOs needs to end. All NGO funding should be paid by private donations by true believers.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader