The Travel Promotion Act that SC Sen. Jim DeMint called "Fannie Travel" in a Washington Post op-ed on Tuesday has passed, 79-19.
Bill's statement of purpose: A bill to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote leisure, business, and scholarly travel to the United States.
The legislation would levy a $10 fee on foreign visitors to the U.S.
That money would, in turn, be used to fund an advertising campaign trying to lure international tourists to the U.S.
DeMint's beef:
"Proponents of the bill say that it's not a tax increase because only foreigners will pay it.
But the European Union and other governments have already announced that any TPA fee will trigger reciprocal fees for American travelers to their countries.
Meanwhile, every $10 Washington takes from foreign tourists is $10 those tourists won't spend in local restaurants, shops and hotels. This act is designed to help big businesses at the expense of small ones."
How 2012 prospects voted:
a. Bob Corker NO
b. Jim DeMint NO
c. Kay Bailey Hutchison NO
d. Jon Kyl NO
e. John Thune YES