Fix to Economic Stimulus Package
Still in Limbo
Call Your Members of Congress Now!
January 31, 2008
As we told you yesterday, the economic stimulus package going through
Congress right now has loopholes that allow the IRS to issue tax rebate
checks to illegal aliens. Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee took up the
Senate version of the economic stimulus package. In the hearing, Senators
agreed in principal to fix these loopholes, but the language has not been
officially released and adopted. WE MUST
THEREFORE KEEP PRESSURE ON CONGRESS TO ACT!!!
It is important to note that the language of the House bill (which is also
the basis for the Senate bill) does not expressly state that illegal aliens
are eligible for the tax rebate. The problem arises because nothing in the
legislation expressly tells the IRS to weed out false and fraudulent social
security numbers already in the system before issuing checks. It also allows
some individuals using individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) to claim rebate checks. ITINs
are issued by the IRS regardless of immigration status and are often used by
illegal aliens to file taxes. The irony here, of course, is that many illegal
aliens file tax returns because they fear the IRS, but clearly not the
Department of Homeland Security.
During yesterday's committee hearing, Senator John Ensign (R-NV) raised
the issue that the economic stimulus legislation (based on the House version,
H.R.5140) would allow the IRS to issue rebate checks to illegal aliens. This
generated a discussion in which a number of Senators agreed this loophole
must be closed. The committee members then agreed in concept to amendment to
the bill that:
- requires recipients to
be lawfully present;
- prohibits the issuance
of rebates to individuals filing with individual taxpayer identification
numbers (ITINs); and
- requires
the IRS to check taxpayer names and social security numbers against
no-match lists.
Again, while this amendment was agreed
to in principle, committee staff must still draft the language and insert it
into the final version of the bill. With the agreement
in concept, the Senate Finance Committee passed the economic stimulus package
by a vote of 14-7. The bill now goes to the Senate floor where it may be
taken up as early as TONIGHT!!!
If the Senate passes language that addresses the loophole, the House must
also approve the change.
FAIR therefore urges all members,
activists, and friends to call their Senators and Representatives IMMEDIATELY
and tell them this loophole must be fixed before Congress passes any economic
stimulus legislation!!! Tell them Congress must act to end the taxpayer
subsidy of illegal immigration.
To find the number of your Senators or Representatives, click here.
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