Senator Chuck Schumer today expressed a desire to target specifically the recipients of the AIG bailout with a targeted tax rate of 100% on their bonuses. This is clearly unconstitutional and Schumer is well aware of the illegality of his proposal. Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 of the constitution provides that: "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed." For those who may be unclear on exactly what this means we can refer to the Federalists papers and James Madison. He wrote the following, "Bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, and laws impairing the...
