A House bill would tax money wire transfers made by illegal immigrants.
Rep. George Cleveland, a Jacksonville Republican who sponsored the bill, said it would be a way to counter the millions of dollars sent to family in other countries by undocumented workers.
But opponents said the bill was unworkable and would open the door to discrimination.
Marisol Jimenez McGee, a lobbyist for El Pueblo, said illegal immigrants already pay sales tax and payroll tax on their earnings.
An attorney for the N.C. Retail Merchants Association said store owners would be forced to require identification of every single wire transfer to avoid lawsuits. Cleveland dismissed the idea:
"If a fella comes in with a pair of shaggy boots on, jeans and a T-shirt, and he's got a straw hat on -- I mean, come on, give me a break." (AP)
The bill remains in a House committee.
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Re: Western Union tax?
It's nice to know that Mr. Cleveland understands discrimination so well.
It's sad that he's the representative from my part of NC (Onslow County).