Today’s winner is Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite. She gets the award for the following.
U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, was complaining about parts of an economic-stimulus package when she referred to residents of Puerto Rico and Guam as “foreign citizens.”
“. . . The bill sends hundreds of millions of dollars to people who do not pay federal income taxes, including residents of Puerto Rico and territories like Guam. I do not believe American taxpayer funds should be sent to foreign citizens who do not pay taxes. Americans want an economic stimulus for Dunnellon, Brooksville and Clermont, not for San Juan or Hagatna. As the legislation moves forward, it must be changed to ensure that only federal taxpaying American citizens receive rebate checks.”
Guam residents won citizenship in 1950. Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship in 1917. They do not pay federal income taxes but do pay Social Security and other payroll taxes.
Just another member of Congress showing how ignorant they are. Less than two weeks ago, a Democratic Congresswoman got the Fed Chair and the US Secretary of the Treasury mixed. Someone serving in Congress ought to know that and who is and isn’t a US citizen and what taxes they pay. After all these are among the taxpaying people Brown-Waite was elected to represent.
Update- I’ll also make the point, if someone is a legal immigrant aka ‘foreign citizen’ and federal taxpayer, why shouldn’t they be entitled to the rebate also?
Florida Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite is today’s Knucklehead of the Day.
