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Politics
Brown-waite and 'foreign citizens'
By Times Staff Writer
Published February 1, 2008
BROOKSVILLE - U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite "reluctantly" voted for President Bush's economic stimulus package this week, and her reasoning is prompting discord.
The Brooksville Republican questioned the bill because it did little to help senior citizens who live on Social Security. Instead, she said in a news release this week, it gives tax breaks to those who don't pay federal income taxes, such as current residents of Puerto Rico and Guam.
Brown-Waite called them "foreign citizens."
"The bill sends hundreds of millions of dollars to people who do not pay federal income taxes, including residents of Puerto Rico and territories like Guam," she said in the news release. "I do not believe American taxpayer funds should be sent to foreign citizens who do not pay taxes.
Residents of Puerto Rico were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. Likewise for residents of Guam in 1950. They pay Social Security taxes and other federal levies, though not federal income taxes.
Brown-Waite spokesman Charlie Keller said Thursday that she knows that they are U.S. citizens, and acknowledged the false characterization.
But, Keller said, "it has nothing to do with people themselves," he explained. "It has to do with the state of federal taxation."
Some area residents of Puerto Rican ancestry objected to her comments.
"Using that term foreign, that is too bad," said Noemi De La Rosa, a Spring Hill resident. "They are part of the U.S. and they do pay taxes - a lot."
About 26,000 citizens of Puerto Rican ancestry live in the 5th Congressional District, according to the latest U.S. census estimates from 2006.
[Last modified January 31, 2008, 23:45:19]
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by Nicole
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02/29/08 10:47 PM
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I'm shocked and disgusted by Ginny's comments. Obviously her education is lacking and her puppet-like ways are continuing. She doesn't support Veteran's and she certainly doesn't represent people who aren't white and rich! Typical republican trash!
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by Jan
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02/14/08 01:17 PM
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Yes Ginny the Ninny's racism, prejudice and gung-ho support of Bush's illegal w-ar until just recently are a disgrace and she needs to be defeated in November by a Democratic candidate who WILL represent the beliefs of we, the people of District 5!
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by Dimas
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02/08/08 08:51 AM
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Ms.Brown-Waite,says that Puerto Rican should not receive any Federal Tax rebates because they do not pay Fed.Income Tax. This is true, but the trade off was that American Companies in Puerto Rico would get lucrative Tax breaks in lieu of this,they do
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by Joey
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02/05/08 07:51 AM
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James Otis, a Boston politician was most famously associated with the term, "taxation without representation is tyranny." PR has no VOTING representation in Congress nor do we vote for President. Yet our young men are good enough to be sent to war.
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by Luis
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02/04/08 09:16 PM
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Puertoricans are citizen before Alaska and Hawaii become state. She sounds very racist, you most be on a home changing your grandchilds they diapers... or yours...
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by Luis
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02/04/08 08:20 PM
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By the way its not our fault PR does not pay taxes or vote but we do go to WAR defending and dying for our american flag. I carry the US passport and use the us dollar because thats what i deserve from my country. Dont be ignorant be a leader!!!
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by Franck Strongbow
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02/04/08 05:16 PM
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To Rep. Ginny Brown Waite: Puerto Rico pays 2billion dollars to Uncle Sam in social Security taxes, and 2 billion in federal income taxes and federal sales taxes,surcharges,and U.S.keeps all run taxes too! Resign!
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by ajanello
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02/01/08 11:15 AM
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If you want American benefits (including refunds) learn English or go home.
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by Jose
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02/01/08 09:53 AM
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"They pay Social Security...though not federal income taxes."This is incorrect, residents of PR do not pay Federal income tax on income FROM PR sources. All income coming from mainland jobs or business goes to form 1040 without voting representation.
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by Susan
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02/01/08 09:51 AM
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My skin color is not white; Raised Roman Catholic (mom/Chinese descent) and Muslim (dad/Pakistani descent). I feel INSULTED to the core of my soul. Ginny and Keller are the breathing example why there's so much HATRED/BIGOTRY in the USA. ~ disgusted
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by Issywise
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02/01/08 07:01 AM
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The Congresswoman's prejudiced soul might be shining out through the crack in her facade caused by her own parochial ignorace--1st Muslims, now American citizens who are not suitably like her. Who next?
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