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Lawmakers Plot To Limit Travel Abroad And At Home
As we make plans for summer travel abroad and at home, concerns turn to the cost of fuel and how it might affect our projected budget. When studying global destination information, we focus on security matters, currency exchange rates and tips from trusted sources. Getting a good handle on all these topics is part of the travel process.
Now, a new concern may affect some travelers. A transportation bill making its way through Congress could allow the federal government to prevent Americans who owe back taxes from leaving the country.
The provision is part of Senate Bill 1813, also called the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, was introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in November and passed by the Senate on March 14. This far-reaching transportation bill allows the federal government to revoke the passports of citizens the IRS claims owe taxes.
Aimed at those who have a seriously delinquent tax debt in excess of $50,000, even if passed, the new law would not affect most people. Still, there are those that fear fundamental rights possessed by Americans to travel, unrestricted, within the USA borders who may be up for review.
"Be aware that once they allow the IRS to block international travel is there one among us who does not believe it will then be extended to travel within the United States?" asks the Beaufort Observer.
"We anticipated some of the terrible provisions; others were simply shocking in scope and shortsightedness," Rails to Trails (RTC) said in a statement urging us to contact our representatives now, using an online form, and ask that they speak to colleagues on the US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee.
Given a moment to breathe, on March 29, two days before the previous extension of our nation's multi-year surface transportation bill expired, congress passed another 90-day extension.
But what the future will bring for international travel by those who owe taxes – or even domestic travel by someone simply looking for a new place to hike – is unknown right now.
On the international travel front, Forbes says, "If he were in charge of travel, the Soup Nazi might say, 'No Passport for you!'" In real life, travel may seem unrelated to taxes, except perhaps for those annoying airport taxes on international destinations. But a bigger tax and travel connection could keep you at home – permanently."
Rails to Trails believes in rights to partake in domestic hiking, backpacking, riding and walking. "For a tiny sliver of transportation funds – less than 2 percent – these programs have provided affordable, healthy transportation options, generated jobs and economic development and preserved historic and environmental assets that provide the quality of life that Americans want and deserve," Kevin Mills, vice president of programming at RTC told Gadling late last year.
[Flickr photo by Moyan Brenn]
Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, Europe, North America, United States, Camping, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mike Apr 10th 2012 5:39PM
Doesn't it make more sense to let them leave but not let them back in until they pay up?
texbabe80 Apr 12th 2012 8:27AM
Spoken like someone who's been truly brainwashed. This is the United States of America for Christ's sake! When "they" want to start restricting OUR freedoms, instead of saying "baa which is okay in sheep talk" you (and all of us) should be fighting to keep our freedoms.
Reneauj Apr 12th 2012 4:53PM
amen!
Coralie Carraway Apr 13th 2012 12:26PM
Does this apply also to the 2%?
Peter Klika Apr 11th 2012 5:09PM
This is the "Big Brother" of George Orwell's 1984. Who will it affect? The average wage earner who gets a W-2 . Who will not be affected? The rich and the powerful hiding behind high-priced attorneys. Our founding are spinning in their graves. Shame on Ms. Boxer.
Peter Klika Apr 11th 2012 5:09PM
Why not extradite Marc Rich from Switzerland. He is the biggest tax cheat in US history ($230 million) but Bill Clinton pardoned him after his trust bunny wife gave $400,000 to Clinton's presidential library. Peter Klika, Kapaau, Hawaii
Bets Apr 12th 2012 8:24AM
so true, peter.
And I never could understand why so many still think clinton was so good. They did not look at what clinton did behind closed doors.... Including letting people, he knew go.
-- AND what about his and hillary stealing $$ from the Savings & Loan failing. -
deotha woodburn Apr 12th 2012 7:57AM
oh chris,did you say something about traveling being restricted within the usa borders??,oh i didn't know that usa had borders. well, can congress start restricting illegal aliens coming across those borders,since now we know we have them.can you block them??. i guess it's easier to restrict americans, then aliens. what a shame.
Jarronica Bizane Apr 12th 2012 11:42AM
Yes we have borders... they are called state lines. We learned that in school.
David Apr 12th 2012 3:35PM
Illegal aliens don't have S.S. #'s so there's no way to legaly to keep them in or out.
John Apr 12th 2012 7:48AM
Enough of all this congressional bullshit, vote all incumbents out.
John Apr 12th 2012 9:15AM
How 'bout kick the government out reestablish the original one we had?
susan Apr 12th 2012 8:08AM
You feel sorry for someone who owes back taxes, which means we all pay more? Get real. I'm happy the govn't is going to go after them.
Bets Apr 12th 2012 8:28AM
do you mean - the government IS going after the non-payers.
Bets Apr 12th 2012 8:26AM
This law is ok by me. There needs to be a way to Stop those Who OWE back taxes from leaving the country for good, OR leaving for a vacation and spending the money that is Owed to the government.
-
I Do NOT feel this is just a step to the gov. bringing more laws against us.
--
To Me this is simply a way to get the $$ owed to the government.
Jay Love Apr 12th 2012 11:36AM
Bets & Susan: sorry to say your thinking and reasoning is flawed, you need to open your eyes a bit? nobody wants to allow tax cheats to go unpunished, or not to collect what they lawfully owe? we all have to pay our fair share of tax and so should they. but this law is totally unnecessary and not needed, we have hundreds of laws now on the books, Federal, state and local to go after and to collect non-paid taxes? the answer here is to simply grow a spine and start using those laws that we already have on the books to go after legitimate tax cheats and I am NOT speaking of the little guy whos a W-2 wage earner and simply neglected to file, or ran a fowl of the tax laws to some small degree, we already have rules and systems in place by which the little guy can get help settling their legitimate tax delinqunecy? its the big timer, wealthy and corporate giants that owe large sums, or who fraglantly chose to decive the tax laws which we need to get tuff in going after. its also these big time guys who will least be affected by any law such as this, they hide their incomes and taxes behind shell corps and have unlimited tax lawyers to sheild them, it will be the little guy on a wage that pays the most and this is simply not what our country was founded on, this type of Marxist abuse!!! we all need to join together this year and roll the bums out, starting at the oval orafice?
Sheila Apr 12th 2012 8:43AM
This is unacceptable. Just unacceptable.
Orlando R Reyes Sr Apr 12th 2012 9:27AM
It is time to take back this once great nation. Or, we can simply leave. For starter I am in agreement with John we definitely need to clean these houses. I also hope we can get past all the smoke and mirrors asap. Stay alert, educate yourself. Live and love within your means!...?
John Apr 12th 2012 9:13AM
Do you think our Founding Fathers would recognize this as the land of freedom they founded?
doine Apr 12th 2012 9:41AM
congress & senators caused this mess vote them all out and start over with new thieves . cut their pay and bennys call a session to be only 3months long thats all the time they spend their now- no retirement benneys- no free travel-