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There is a rule somewhere that Passport processing must pay for itself with user fees, i.e. that it should not cost any taxes at all to do it. Considering how
by ars 4y ago
There is a rule somewhere that Passport processing must pay for itself with user fees, i.e. that it should not cost any taxes at all to do it.
Considering how expensive a passport is, there's something about the process that's very expensive, don't know what.
- jedberg 4y agoRight, they should repeal that rule. The expense is in the verification of physical documents. But if they do this online system for everyone then the cost would go way down. And even if it didn't, it would cost perhaps $3B a year (because they last for 10 years). That's pocket change to the US government. Not to mention the savings from dropping the RealID program, which would be unnecessary.
- brewdad 4y agoI agree with what you are saying but it would be the perfect encapsulation of US government in the 21st century to eliminate the RealID program after a decade or more of working to get all 50 states on board.
- notch656a 4y agoIf that's a great concept, they should extend that to the rest of government services.
- ars 4y agoFor the most part, they do. A lot of services are paid for be user fees: Permits, Licenses, Inspections, Customs for commercial shipping, even Airport Security is paid for by surcharges on your ticket. Car License plates, Drivers Licenses, National Park entrance fees. It's basically: Did you ask for it? Pay for it.
- notch656a 4y ago>Did you ask for it? Pay for it. I'm trying to reconcile that with someone else asking for a $10k federal loan, and then me (or somebody who never asked to go to college at all) being the one to pay it for them (through inflation or taxes).