US plans to tax migrants' money angers Mexico

Sierra Times ^ | 03. 3. 06 at 6:43 | AP

[boomop1]

Mexico must secede.

[RightWhale]

It might go down easier among the latins if it is called a bribe rather than a tax.

[RobbyS]

People have waked up. Maybe the federal government will end its snooze.

[DoughtyOne]

Has anyone else noticed that Mexico is shaped like a colon?

No wonder it's leadership seems to have a hard time with clear-headed thinking.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

and this is bad how?????

[freedumb2003]

Please O please let this go through.

I have no idea where Mexico got the idea it has any kind of say in our imternal affairs, but it is time to shut them up with actions, not words.

[stopem]

Mexico complained on Thursday that a bill in Georgia's state legislature to tax the hundreds of millions of dollars that illegal immigrants wire home would unfairly hurt Mexicans working north of the border.

Sponsored by Republican lawmakers who charge that illegal immigrants use basic health and education services without contributing to them, the bill would force anyone unable to prove their legal status to pay tax on their wire transfers."

Excuse me? the mexican government has the audacity to demand we abide by their rules? Has this bill been passed? It better if House and Senate want to be voted back in to their cushy jobs.

[Echo Talon]

Why let them send money in the first place if they cant prove citizenship? ehhh if we are to weak to kick them out or throw them in jail I guess its better than nothing.

[satchmodog9]

Will this create a groundswell of people suing for more rights and privileges? Can they then reason some sort of citizenship or welfare rights because they are tax payers?

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

A 50% tax would be very nice.

[staytrue]

Critics say the laws would be ineffective, and that migrants would simply ship money home by less secure means.

I agree, this tax (unless it is very low) will not raise money.

Supporters of the bills in Georgia and Arizona argue something must be done to salvage revenue from hundreds of millions of dollars they say slip out of their states untaxed.

My solution is to become like florida. No income tax, and a sales tax only. Everyone pays including illegals.

"The reality is that a tremendous amount of undocumented illegal immigrants are in this country earning money and not paying any taxes," Rep. Calvin Hill, a Georgia Republican who sponsored his state's bill, told Reuters.

"They are utilizing the vast resources of the state but not financially contributing in any way," said Hill, who estimated $1 billion was leaving the state every year in untaxed remittances from illegal immigrants alone. Why not just bar illegals from using govt. services ?

It would be simpler and more effective than this silly tax.

[Flyer]

Mexico can shove it up their Cancun.

[SIDENET]

"The recently approved initiative ... is unjust because it discriminates against people of Hispanic origin in general and Mexicans in particular," Mexico's foreign ministry said.

[Flyer]

a sales tax only. Everyone pays including illegals

But if they don't spend the money here, no sales tax is collected on it.

[fooman]

ping

[snowsislander]

I am curious as to the extent of this bill: lots of businesses send money in and out of the U.S.

Are these companies also going to be charged for each transaction? If so, who in Georgia is going to be checking compliance with this tax law? Will this law also apply to mere branches of companies that are headquartered elsewhere, and the wire itself might be actually initiated in, say, New York at corporate headquarters?

[Publius6961]

Perhaps if it was called a mordida, which is permanently culturally embedded in Mexico, they might understand and approve?

[monkeywrench]

You can't bar them from using emergency rooms or schools.

[cowboy_code]

This is a grand idea. I saw this coming for 10 years. Also why is Mexico so mad? The bill said 'illegal immigrants'. Does this mean Mexican Govt. Is this admitting the illegal status of these aliens in our country? Anyways, also not all Illegals are Mexican, I thought everyone knew that. I hope this law passes there and spreads across the border(not just the southern USA border) states.