“No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed.” Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3
“The $165 million in bonuses set to go to American International Group executives would be taxed at 100 percent under a new bill introduced Tuesday in the House. The sponsor of the new bill, Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), said Tuesday that “if we can’t kill the bonuses, we’ll tax the bonuses.” — Newsday, March 17, 2009
Weren’t the Dems the ones always complaining about the supposed trampling of constitutional rights by the Bush administration?
But now that they’re in power, looks like they won’t hesitate to junk the Constitution for purposes of political grandstanding. No politician can go wrong by beating his chest over the AIG bonuses. Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) and some of his colleagues want to take things further: imposing a 100% tax on the bonuses granted to AIG employees.
But wait a second. Doesn’t that smell an awful lot like a Bill of Attainder, defined as: “a legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial.”
Granted, this is in the nature of a monetary punishment rather than a criminal conviction. But doesn’t it go against constitutional notions of equal protection, and doesn’t a 100% levy go beyond taxation and become confiscation?
3 Comments
Mark…
Yes…yes and yes.
I have also heard that Dodd knew and put in a clause or amendment of some kind that AIG, maybe others too, can receive the bonuses…
He was the number one donor from AIG for campaign contributions…with O second and then Hill and McC…
Talk about hypocrites…and I won’t even get into Chuck Schumer and his spewing blather.
…and the beat goes on…
Since “Bill of Attainder” would go over the head of many Americans, and APPARENTLY over the head of a certain DEMOCRATIC Senator. I watched tv and listened to the radio.. yes, at the same time.. IN HORROR, watching my Senator say… give it back OR ELSE!!!
MR. SCHUMER.. you are depriving INNOCENT AMERICANS of their PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS. These people have a CONTRACTUAL RIGHT to that income according to the CONTRACT LAW as set forth in Section 1 part 9/10 …
SIR ..just who the hell do you think you are?? You are sounding like a Swaggering, Overbearing, tinplated dictator, with Delusions of GODHOOD!!
so for the safety of myself and my family… I’m dropping out of your LIBERAL ORDER.. this Atlas has Shrugged. If you go after AIG employees WITHOUT DUE PROCESS… WHAT are you going to do to a little fish like me.. no sir, you’re not getting the chance.. you want any more from me, you gonna have to personally come and getit..if you dare.
This is all so flagrantly unconstitutional it is ridiculous.
If the governments gets away with this lunacy, what will stop them from going after others in the future?
-Dave
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[...]No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed. Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 The $165 million in bon[...]…
[...] specific individuals for purposes of punishing them without a trial, which is the definition of a Bill of Attainder (”a legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a [...]