"Feds want to study border-crossing fee"
Apr 21, 2013, 3:49 pm
#1
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"Feds want to study border-crossing fee"
From the Bellingham (WA) Herald:
Canadian perspective from the Vancouver Sun:
The concept of "user pay" is fine with me, but only if it's going to truly reduce the burden on taxpayers who don't use a given service. Somehow I can't see that happening in this instance.
Feds want to study border-crossing fee
BELLINGHAM - In an effort to raise more money for border protection and inspection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants Congress to authorize the study of a fee that could be collected from everyone who enters this country at land crossings.
The DHS 2014 budget proposal seeks increases in existing fees charged for a variety of customs and immigration services, such as the fees that air and sea travelers pay when they enter the country.
BELLINGHAM - In an effort to raise more money for border protection and inspection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants Congress to authorize the study of a fee that could be collected from everyone who enters this country at land crossings.
The DHS 2014 budget proposal seeks increases in existing fees charged for a variety of customs and immigration services, such as the fees that air and sea travelers pay when they enter the country.
Homeland Security wants to charge fee for crossing U.S.-Canada border
Proposed charge prompts economic alarm in Ottawa, New York
The U.S. government is proposing to charge a new fee for every vehicle or pedestrian crossing the U.S.-Canada border — an idea that has prompted fierce objections from New York lawmakers who claim the levy would stifle transboundary commerce and undermine recent efforts to ease the flow of people and goods between the two countries.
The Canadian government, too, is raising alarms about the proposal, with an embassy spokesman in Washington telling the Buffalo News that “we’re confident that any study would conclude that the considerable economic damage any fee would do would greatly outweigh any revenue generated.”
The issue flared on Friday in the U.S. after Rep. Brian Higgins, a Democratic congressman from Buffalo, N.Y., drew attention to an item buried deeply in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s proposed 2014 budget, released last week by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.
Proposed charge prompts economic alarm in Ottawa, New York
The U.S. government is proposing to charge a new fee for every vehicle or pedestrian crossing the U.S.-Canada border — an idea that has prompted fierce objections from New York lawmakers who claim the levy would stifle transboundary commerce and undermine recent efforts to ease the flow of people and goods between the two countries.
The Canadian government, too, is raising alarms about the proposal, with an embassy spokesman in Washington telling the Buffalo News that “we’re confident that any study would conclude that the considerable economic damage any fee would do would greatly outweigh any revenue generated.”
The issue flared on Friday in the U.S. after Rep. Brian Higgins, a Democratic congressman from Buffalo, N.Y., drew attention to an item buried deeply in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s proposed 2014 budget, released last week by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.
Apr 21, 2013, 6:23 pm
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Apr 21, 2013, 6:29 pm
#4
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I can almost guarantee that Canada would return the favour to Americans with a similar tax levy. Other countries would also consider it.
Apr 21, 2013, 6:34 pm
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Apr 21, 2013, 11:47 pm
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The Florida IDP law is sort of no longer law -- it was probably unconstitutional and the state legislators had their mind changed by business interests and the communication about that law's probable unconstitutional elements.
Apr 22, 2013, 8:43 pm
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The Rainbow Bridge crossing fee would prevent a lot of people from crossing over to US to spend a few bucks. That is just one place that would suffer. There are many more.
Apr 22, 2013, 11:04 pm
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U.S. border fee proposal to be 'vigorously' fought by Ottawa
Ottawa "will vigorously lobby against" a proposal to charge every vehicle and pedestrian a fee to enter the United States at any land border crossing, says a spokeswoman for Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The Department of Homeland Security wants Congress to authorize the study of a fee that could be collected from everyone who enters the U.S. at land crossings bordering Canada and Mexico.
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade thinks a fee to simply enter the U.S. would be bad for business between the two countries.
"Canadian officials will vigorously lobby against this proposal," department spokeswoman Emma Welford told CBC News in an email.
The Department of Homeland Security wants Congress to authorize the study of a fee that could be collected from everyone who enters the U.S. at land crossings bordering Canada and Mexico.
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade thinks a fee to simply enter the U.S. would be bad for business between the two countries.
"Canadian officials will vigorously lobby against this proposal," department spokeswoman Emma Welford told CBC News in an email.
It's a thoroughly stupid idea, which doesn't surprise me.
Apr 22, 2013, 11:49 pm
#12
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Personally I have no problem with it - to a certain degree. Besides there are a similar taxes when transiting via air:
http://www.airlines.org/Pages/Govern...portation.aspx
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...-and-fees.html
As said, it is pay to play which with budget decreases we will more and more of such taxes. The issue is that the feds will continue to subsides many many other industries.
http://www.airlines.org/Pages/Govern...portation.aspx
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...-and-fees.html
As said, it is pay to play which with budget decreases we will more and more of such taxes. The issue is that the feds will continue to subsides many many other industries.
Apr 22, 2013, 11:51 pm
#13
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