IRS may soon track what you buy online.

[m42]

Hidden within the Dodd/Countrywide Housing Bailout bill is a provision added by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) that would greatly expand the power of the Internal Revenue Service to monitor what you buy online. Sen. Grassley's provision would require the nation's electronic payment systems to track, aggregate, and report information on nearly every electronic transaction to the federal government.

The Senate is currently considering a $300 billion mortgage bailout for the riskiest borrowers and their banks. Recently, it was revealed that Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), the primary architect of the compromise bill that ultimately ended up on the Senate floor, had received a special “VIP” loan from Countrywide Financial, which stands to be one of the primary beneficiaries of the bill.

Unfortunately, the irresponsible economics and the VIP scandal are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the bad policy in the mortgage bailout. Hidden within the bill is a provision added by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) that would greatly expand the power of the Internal Revenue Service to monitor what Americans buy online. Sen. Grassley’s provision would require the nation’s electronic payment systems to track, aggregate, and report information on nearly every electronic transaction to the federal government.

This means that the government will be able to track everything Americans buy on sites like Amazon and eBay. This sweeping provision carries with it serious concerns about the state of privacy in the United States. Since the provision was revealed late last week, groups on both the Right and the Left have joined together in expressing vocal opposition to this blatant violation of the privacy rights of every American citizen.


http://www.capwiz.com/freedomworks/issues/alert/?alertid=11529276

[John Scott]

Scary.

We need to put a serious leash on the government.

[kerrin]

WTF?

I totally missed this. In my apparent apathy to all things political during this "political season."

Did this get passed in the final bill?

We need to put a serious leash on the government.
Forget leash. We need a hatchet... or a guillotine.

The Republicrats will say if you have nothing to hide you shouldn't be concerned about the IRS looking at your sh**.

Infuriating.

[m42]

Did this get passed in the final bill?


Yes.

Dear Alexandra:

Thank you for contacting me with regard to H.R.3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. I appreciate hearing from you.

On July 26, 2008, the U.S. Senate passed H.R.3221 by a vote of 72-13 with my support, and President Bush signed the bill into law three days later.

With 8,500 American families falling into foreclosure every day and the effects of the housing crisis dragging down the national economy, this legislation comes at a critical time. The bill will help stabilize the housing sector by providing meaningful and immediate assistance to families and communities affected by rising foreclosures, stop the precipitous decline in home prices and home sales, and ensure the availability of affordable home loans.

The bill also gives the Treasury Department the authority they recently requested to shore up confidence in the government-sponsored enterprises that are central to our domestic mortgage market, while instituting stronger oversight mechanisms that will help prevent a similar confidence crisis in the future. In my view, this precautionary step was an appropriate way to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can continue to provide stable and affordable home financing to millions of American families.

Finally, let me emphasize that, in my view, this legislation is not about bailing out people who made bad decisions. Rather, it is about providing relief to the segment of the population that fell victim to the perfect storm of extremely cheap credit, overconfidence in the housing market, and unscrupulous or reckless practices of lenders and brokers. Just as significantly, it is about putting the brakes on a growing wave of foreclosures that is threatening to drag our whole economy into a recession.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your views. Please rest assured I will keep them in mind as my colleagues and I work to defuse the housing crisis in the U.S. Senate.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar
United States Senator

[kerrin]

Impressive. How do you do it? Stay that involved. Emailing my reps is like talking to automated customer service.

Did you rip him a new one?

[m42]

Impressive. How do you do it? Stay that involved. Emailing my reps is like talking to automated customer service.

Did you rip him a new one?

I rarely get involved. I =REALLY= didn't like that hidden clause so I voiced my concerns.

The response was likely automated. Regardless, it was more than I got from Congresswoman DeGette and Senator Allard, both of whom responded generically with some form of "You'll just have to trust me! Thanks for voting!" *grumble*

[kerrin]

Okay. Well, now I know that I can hang with you. If your in the D.C metro area, beers on me we can grumble together... I do try to mix grumbling with laughter though.

On a serious note: What do they think trust is based on? A mostly conservative, great leader once said, "Trust but verify."

I'll be happy when the boomer generation can retire... oh, wait their retirement is in the toilet, dang it's gonna be a little longer.

[m42]

Okay. Well, now I know that I can hang with you. If your in the D.C metro area, beers on me we can grumble together... I do try to mix grumbling with laughter though.

Likewise if you're ever in the Denver area. Offer good until March 2009. ;)

On a serious note: What do they think trust is based on? A mostly conservative, great leader once said, "Trust but verify."


Reagan show wise juju. *grunt*

[kerrin]

...until March 2009. ;)
Running for office?

[m42]

Leaving the country.

[kerrin]

Leaving the country.
For career/job? Somewhere nice?

[m42]

For carrer/job? Somewhere nice?

Still deciding.