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HR 9495: Who Is Spiking the Yule Brew?
HR9495 is a cooked up toxic brew
In a legislative version of a “poison pill,” (1) Congress sends to the Senate HR9495, a long overdue hostage family tax abatement package spiked with a toxic spice — a bill whose purpose is to chill dissent of government policy in the Middle East.
And this is just the beginning.
“Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, passed House 11/21/2024
This bill postpones certain filing deadlines for U.S. nationals who are unlawfully or wronglfully detained abroad or held hostage abroad with their spouses. It also allows for a refund and abatement of tax penalties and fines paid by hostages, detained individuals, and their spouses or dependents.
The bill terminates the tax-exempt status of terrorist supporting organizations.”
— Summary, HR9495, 118th Congress (2023–2024), congress.gov
The net effect of this Republican cynic-nihilism is to ‘send a message’ that by voting against HR9495 you support terrorism, whether in the form of condoning hostage-taking or in providing aid and comfort to the enemy. (1)
Give to a hospital situated in Gaza, treating victims of drone raids, and you are supporting terrorism. Give to a non-profit team reporting on…
