Iguess we’ve moved into the realm of “guilty until you prove yourself innocent”:

The Republican House of Representatives may soon follow the Democratic Senate and give the IRS the power to confiscate your passport on mere suspicion of owing taxes. There’s no place like home, comrade.

‘America, Love It Or Leave It" might be an obsolete slogan if the "bipartisan transportation bill" that just passed the Senate is approved by the House and becomes law. Contained within the suspiciously titled "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act," or "MAP 21," is a provision that gives the Internal Revenue Service the power to keep U.S. citizens from leaving the country if it finds that they owe $50,000 or more in unpaid taxes — no court ruling necessary.

Note … “mere suspicion”.  Like the IRS screws up its audit and thinks you owe more than you do (and at least $50k), your passport is yanked without going to court.

Let freedom ring, eh?

And, as the lede points out, it isn’t just the Democrats.  Another attempt by both parties to shred the Constitution.

This is not the sort of power an unaccountable agency should be given.  Any idea of how many people will suddenly find themselves on the wrong end of a suspicion they owe $50k or more in taxes?  Whether true or not, with the power to grab your passport and only a suspicion needed (no court order), the IRS will likely “suspect” many people owe at least that much.

That’s certainly consistent with the history of such granted power. Go to the extreme quickly – there’s no reason not too.  No penalty for them, certainly.  Oh, you don’t owe $50k?  Here’s your passport. 

“Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century”?

Since when is changing the IRS to a form of the KGB a “move ahead?”

~McQ

Twitter: @McQandO