[Alter Kaker]

I have asked this of every elected representative I have had and never get an answer. I even post to Heritage Foundation in a Q&A and got no reply. Where in our founding documents and laws does it say; “The king shall tax its citizens and send their treasure to foreign kings?”

Silly question!

Congress -- even before the Constitution was ratified -- taxed the people and sent money to foreign Kings. For years during the 1780s and 1790s, for example, Congress paid millions in tribute to the Barbary pirates.

Obviously the Framers of the Constitution didn't like to have to do it (the US eventually went to war against the pirates), but they didn't see themselves as being limited in any respect by the Constitution.

[edcoil]

I’d say ransom not tribute and Washington and Adams hated it which is why they stopped it.