Thread: Pennies for Puppies

Oh, good grief. Now we're just going too far. I love my dogs but . . .

Republican Congressman Thaddeus McCotter has introduced well-meaning legislation that is certain to tug at the heartstrings of animal lovers. H.R. 3501, the ‘Happy Act,’ would provide pet owners a tax deduction of up to $3,500 annually for pet care.

The deduction is not available for pet acquisition costs, but is intended for veterinary and other pet care costs. Yet one of the sponsor’s stated reasons is that, due to the economy, pet shelters are overcrowded. People losing jobs and even having to abandon homes result in many abandoned pets. Congressman McCotter believes the deduction would encourage pet adoption by loving owners. Maybe; maybe not.

I have six rescued dogs, three rescued cats and three rescued ponies, and I oppose this bill. First of all, the tax code is already too filled with social engineering provisions. Secondly, I don’t see a ‘Pet Clause’ in Article I of the Constitution. I worry about the federal government having any regulatory power over our relationships with our pets.

Thirdly, and perhaps more importantly to pet lovers, we already see too many people bringing home pets only to later find they don't want them. A false incentive, such as a tax deduction, rather than a true incentive, such as the desire to provide a loving home for a pet, could result in more neglected pets. Pets need owners who love them regardless of the costs and hardships that come with some. In my opinion, pets do not need owners who believe they need a tax deduction to provide adequate care.

While I’d rather see my vet get paid and less of my money going to the federal government, the best thing Congress can do for pets is to stop the madness that is killing our economy.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/200 ... under.html

IS A JOKE...

And the Joke is on us.

Hmmm.......perhaps animal health insurance?

It seems as though these people(?) have lost their minds(?) If that is even possible.

I'll go even further. These people that would spend thousands of dollars on pets need their heads examined! With all of the people and charities and good that could be done for people and institutions that help people with that money makes one wonder where there head is?

Talk about falling off the turnip wagon.

Good find Reggie!

Hmmm.....we have four cats and 8 chickens, with three more egg laying chicks being raised....think we ca get a tax break for all of them?

One more stupid-a.....thing the government thinks it needs to do to just get us into more financial trouble.

NO, IT'S NOT A JOKE!!!!



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Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act (Introduced in House)

HR 3501 IH


111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3501
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 31, 2009
Mr. MCCOTTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means


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A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 63 percent of United States households own a pet.

(2) The Human-Animal Bond has been shown to have positive effects upon people's emotional and physical well-being.

SEC. 3. DEDUCTION FOR PET CARE EXPENSES.

(a) In General- Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the following new section:

`SEC. 224. PET CARE EXPENSES.

`(a) Allowance of Deduction- In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the qualified pet care expenses of the taxpayer during the taxable year for any qualified pet of the taxpayer.

`(b) Maximum Deduction- The amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) to the taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $3,500.

`(c) Qualified Pet Care Expenses- For purposes of this section, the term `qualified pet care expenses' means amounts paid in connection with providing care (including veterinary care) for a qualified pet other than any expense in connection with the acquisition of the qualified pet.

`(d) Qualified Pet- For purposes of this section--

`(1) QUALIFIED PET- The term `qualified pet' means a legally owned, domesticated, live animal.

`(2) EXCEPTIONS- Such term does not include any animal--

`(A) used for research or owned or utilized in conjunction with a trade or business, or

`(B) with respect to which the taxpayer has claimed a deduction under section 162 or 213 in any of the preceding 3 taxable years.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the last item and inserting the following new items:

`Sec. 224. Pet care expenses.

`Sec. 225. Cross reference.'.

(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.

Our government has gone completely mad!

Track the bill

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3501

Overview
Sponsor:

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R-MI11](no cosponsors)
Cosponsors:
Text:
Full Text
Status:

Occurred: Introduced Jul 31, 2009
Occurred: Referred to Committee View Committee Assignments
Not Yet Occurred: Reported by Committee ...
Not Yet Occurred: House Vote ...
Not Yet Occurred: Senate Vote ...
Not Yet Occurred: Signed by President ...
This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of bills and resolutions never make it out of committee. [Last Updated: Aug 1, 2009 4:23PM]
Last Action:
Jul 31, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

My dogs are happy

The insanity increases as we spiral ever deeper into the Twilight Zone.

But April, I have four cats, and eight egg laying chickens, could you imagine the tax breaks I could get?.....I want my socialist money for being alive, I lost on the birth lottery, I want my share of someone elses.....

This is pretty much what this is, taking from one, giving to another, using some insane reason of HOW to do it.