Paycation, all I ever wanted, paycation happy to get away…

Not enough is said about the large tracts of land between Sen. McSally’s ears.

As you may be aware, the U.S. has a few problems of the Horsepersons of the Apocalypse nature right now. Meanwhile, Republicans are dead set against providing meaningful financial assistance to anyone who makes less than six figures a month because they hate the not-rich almost as much as they hate the not-white and they’ve got plenty of hate to go around.

So while normal people worry about whether they’ll be able to do simple things like eat, elected Republicans are hard at work looking for ways to remind people that they’re so powerful that they can say Fuck You with legislation. Sen. McSally’s offering will be tough to beat: S.4031 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a temporary nonrefundable personal tax credit for travel, hospitality, and entertainment expenses, and for other purposes.

As McSally said of her TRIPpin Act.

“The tourism and hospitality industries were among the hardest hit sectors across the country and their revival is critical to our economic recovery,” McSally said. “Arizona has lost billions in revenue this year alone due to the pandemic. My legislation will help boost domestic travel and jumpstart the comeback of our hotels, entertainment sectors, local tourism agencies, and the thousands of businesses that make Arizona one of the best places in the world to visit. It will also encourage Americans to safely get out of their homes and discover or rediscover Arizona along with the rest of the amazing destinations our country has to offer after a difficult several months stuck inside.

Oh you didn’t know? COVID-19 is over. Yep. It got warm and went poof.

And even if it isn’t over, Republicans think the economy needs your labor/money more than you need to breathe. So when you head out to see this great nation, make sure to hit crowded places where people stand around screaming about their right not to take simple precautions that would make everyone safer. Bonus points if it is somewhere people go to the grocery with an arsenal strapped to their backs because it makes them feel safer. ;-)

The text of the bill isn’t available yet, McSally is probably busy cramming bailouts and exceptions designed to exclude people who aren’t rich RealMericans into the thing, but here are some more details.

The American TRIP Act provides a $4,000 travel credit for individuals, and $8,000 for joint filers (plus an additional $500 credit for dependent children), for 2020, 2021, and 2022.

I confess that I am not the average vacation spender. To me vacation involves staying with in-laws, camping at a state park or staying a couple of nights at the beach during off-season if we’re feeling super fancy. So 4K/adult within the U.S. seems like a fucklot of money for vacation unless it is spread out over several years or goes to buy a used camper. Am I wrong?

This credit applies to all travel within the United States and its territories, so long as the travel and expenses and final destination is 50 miles from the principal residence of the filer(s).

Leaving the principal residence aside for a sec., there are a lot of people in the U.S. who – even if they can take a couple of days off without losing money – can’t travel 50 miles from home. And this bill handily excludes anyone who hasn’t filed FIC because they’re exempt. I assume the thought is if they’re that poor they don’t deserve a vacation – it might make give them ideas above their station – and they’ll be needed to serve the people who can afford to travel.

For filers who own a second home, expenses related to live entertainment, food and beverage, and transportation qualify, but expenses related to the dwelling would not qualify (mortgage, interest, maintenance, etc.)

OK, again this is just me, not a Republican who clearly has never heard of guillotines, but it seems that if you can afford a second fucking home you don’t need extra money to encourage you to travel to it and you certainly should not receive a tax credit to travel to your second fucking home because your expenses will be lower than a person who has to pay for lodging because they cannot afford a second home.

“I look forward to working with both sides of the aisle in the Senate and House to restart an important part of the economy by passing this bill.”

I’m sure the full text of the bill will be worse, and maybe I’m not alone in that assumption. Some bills have co-sponsors when they’re introduced. So far this thing has a grand total of 0. Or maybe her fellow Republicans are waiting to see if they’ll benefit from the bailouts.