January 30, 2008
Senate tries to fix illegal immigrant language in econ bill

The Senate Finance Committee has added language to the economic stimulus bill that would only allow Social Security numbers to be used for taxpayers who want to receive the tax rebate proposed by Congress.

The change comes after a growing number of conservatives raised concerns that illegal immigrants, using individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs), would receive tax rebates under the bill passed by the House Tuesday. The Politico reported the controversy earlier today (Jan. 30).

Senators hope the stricter use of Social Security numbers instead of the temporary taxpayer IDs will stop undocumented immigrants from receiving the $500 or $1,000 rebates. The Finance Committee passed the bill 14-7, and the Senate could vote on the bill Jan 31.

"We think this covers it so people here illegally don't get the benefits," said Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.).

Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), said after the markup that "an ITIN will not be enough" for someone filing a tax return to be eligible for the rebates. These tax IDs could still be used for tax returns, but the taxpayer would not receive the rebate.

Immigration advocates say that potentially thousands of legal immigrants who don't yet have a Social Security number or are stuck in the green card back log awaiting their Social Security number would unfairly be prohibited from receiving rebates, even though they pay U.S. income taxes.

"Are they going to try to solve this huge undocumented problem in the stimulus or are they going to get money into the hands of people who will spend it?" said Marshall Fitz, director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/ ... _bill.html