Earlier news reports stated that American citizens being evacuated from Lebanon would have to sign a promissory note to reimburse the government $300 for their evacuation or risk having the use of their passport curtailed until they do pay. Later, CNN said the fees have been waived (though I haven't see this one yet).
FOX News reported that this is the fault of the democrats passing a bill awhile back requiring reimbursement for anyone evacuated from another country. Is this true? I'm searching the web for info on the original bill from the democrats, but it sure seems more like
something the republicans would do.
ANyone have any info on this? Links for verification? Thanks!
2006-07-18 19:36:38 · 12 answers · asked by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
I know they're not being charged... the government has rightly waived it. But the pundits are saying that the LAW requires it (even the waiver notice on the State Department website said it is waiving the requirement that they reimburse the US government the evacuation costs). I'm looking for the law that requires it, when it was enacted and who is behind the law. I want to understand why we would want to charge any evacuees for their evacuation from an international situation. Thanks!
2006-07-18 19:46:45 · update #1
We have NO problem spending billions on a war, giving away money to hurricane victims that weren't even living where
the hurricane hit, and sending relief to the citizens of the warring countries FOR FREE, but if you're a US citizen, why should we spend a couple million to help you? Let's not even discuss the money that companies are charging the government for a toilet seat or washer for a faucet. With all that money being drained out for all of those things, a few million to help evacuate our own citizens from a war-torn area is where we must draw the line. (note dripping sarcasm)
2006-07-19 08:43:40 · update #2
Republicrats, Demopublicans, they are all socialists- the original bill was, as I recall, submitted by a Democrat in the house about 5 years ago, and passed both houses rather easily in a bipartisan fashion- if I am recalling correctly I saw the news report on it on Yahoo news. Don't actually have any links for you, but perhaps the time frame will help- you might also see about looking into the Congressional Record, maybe you can find it there.
2006-07-18 19:44:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Typical Fox mudslinging.
From NBC:
""Late Tuesday NBC's Dawn Fratangelo confirmed that American evacuees would not have to sign promissory notes pledging repayment for passage.""
An official told NBC that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has directed her staff to sign waivers so promissory notes will not be needed.""
...
""NBC News’ Pete Williams reports that federal law requires the government to charge passengers a fee no higher than the evacuated citizen would have paid for reasonable commercial air fare before the local situation deteriorated.
This is not a new requirement. During the first Gulf War, the State Department asked Americans who wanted to be evacuated from Saudi Arabia to sign promissory notes that they’d reimburse the government within 60 days.
If they have no way to fly onward, they also will be asked to reimburse the cost of an airline ticket from Cyprus to the United States. ""
2006-07-19 02:49:07 · answer #2 · answered by oohhbother 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fee has now been waived and that came straight out of the White House.
No it is not the fault of the Democrats. Fox News blames everything on the Democrats. It is the fault of the legislature as a whole (which btw had more Republicans at the time). Also the bill was not intended for this kind of situation which is why the fee has now been waived.
2006-07-19 02:43:04 · answer #3 · answered by charmingchatty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why shouldn't they be charged? Someone has to pay for it. People are always complaining about how high our taxes are. And then something like this happens and we think it's a crime that we ask them to repay the government for risking the lives of many people to get them out of wherever they were. What were they doing there? Were they forced to leave? Did they have the choice to stay? If they had the choice to stay then we should charge them.
Do you know how many people it takes to repatriate someone?
Dept. of State, Dept of defense, American Red cross, Military people, INS, FBI, customs, FEMA, HUD, Dept. of Agriculture, All the people involved at the point of entry or entries.
All those people have to be paid. That comes out of your taxes, if the repatriated don't reimburse the government.
But of course this is another chance for you to blame the republicans for something. Never mind the fact that Condi Rice is waiving the reimbursement. Oh look Secretary Rice is a republican.
I still think we should charge them.
2006-07-19 12:04:10 · answer #4 · answered by smutulator 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not know about you but the Greek navy evacuated 100's of people, Greeks and otherwise (some Americans too) and of course was for free.
2006-07-19 02:43:17 · answer #5 · answered by Kimon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they had been charged, it would be crazy! I mean, it's not their fault they have to evacuated. And I'd rather lose my passport than lose my life to bombings. You can always get copies of your passport & any identifying paperwork, if you think ahead to leave copies with family before traveling.
2006-07-19 03:02:49 · answer #6 · answered by cassicad75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looks like Americans don't even like Americans
2006-07-19 02:44:36 · answer #7 · answered by Ferret 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to www.state.gov and what it says on that web that americans won't be charged for their evacuation.
2006-07-19 02:41:30 · answer #8 · answered by meemo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Travel costs! Why should they get a free ride? They shouldn't be over in that hell hole in the first place!
2006-07-19 02:40:06 · answer #9 · answered by Jimmy Pete 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were warned not to travel to Lebanon. It's only right that they pay there way out.
2006-07-19 02:41:58 · answer #10 · answered by Superstar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋