mmm

According to CNN, The Travel America Now Act would give a tax credit for personal and vacation travel for trips more than 100 miles from home. The credit would be up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples.

However, here's the catch (or one of them):this credit would only be available for travel expenses incurred from the time the bill becomes law to December 31, 2001.

Unlike elected officials, I can NOT take a vacation at a moment's notice. Like, most Americans, I do NOT have unlimited vacation time.

We normally take a week in the spring for FL and then a longer European vacation in early fall -- this past year we went in August because we went to the Baltic.

If this tax break has a 12/31/01 deadline, it is useless for us. Even though we put @$12,000 into the US economy via our Princess cruise and April '01 FL vacation, we get a big fat nothing.

Also, we do not itemize on our federal taxes. If this tax break requires itemization, it is worthless for us.

Why shouldn't this apply to travel through 2002? Does Congress really think the economy will rebound before April 2002? I don't. Do Congress really think the laid-off Americans will not only be back to work but also have extra cash for travel spending? I don't.

Retail stores are cutting back on help and inventory because they expect bad holiday sales -- does Congress think we are going to spend our dollars on travel?

I'm mad enough about the limits on this to say "to h*** with Vegas in Jan 2002 or Florida in April 2002 or anywhere in Sept 2002." No tax break for us -- the money goes in the bank-- no, wait, the bank can use it for morgage loans -- in the safety-deposit box, where it can sit and sit and sit.

Gilly

Anyone who has 12 grand to spend on a cruise shouldn't bitch about anything! IMO, you have it pretty darn good. Open up your eyes and look around you, there are people worse off than you. Better yet, go visit a cancer ward or help at a homeless shelter.

D.J.

Looks like were back to the old ways again.Name calling and the ever popular one liners about 6000+ people who died so everyone else should become mary sunshine now and put up with all the crap in this world just because they're lucky enough to be alive.Now thats pathetic!

Jim

We Americans get tax breaks when we get married. Tax breaks when we breed and produce more people than we can perhaps handle. Tax breaks for a retirement account. Tax breaks for charity. Tax breaks for fuel-efficient cars. Tax breaks for, well, should I go on?

So, why not a tax break for travel???

xxx

Excuse me but you get a tax PENALTY when you get married.