Congress extends benefits to military spouses

**Popeye** · 11-02-2009, 04:47 PM

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...cle=1&catnum=0

Nov 2 03:35 PM US/Eastern
By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress on Monday sent President Barack Obama a bill that allows military spouses to claim residency in the same state as their wives or husbands.

Under current law, service members can choose to keep their original residency as they relocate.

Spouses who lobbied for the change said having that same right would prevent hassles associated with every move, such as obtaining a new driver's license and reregistering to vote. In some cases, it also eliminates the need for couples to file separate tax returns and lowers the income taxes that some spouses pay.

Moving is a ritual repeated nearly every three years on average for military families.

The House passed the legislation on a voice vote. Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, a bill sponsor who represents Fort Hood, Texas, said it would give "invaluable relief to numerous military spouses who regularly uproot their entire lives to accommodate our Armed Forces."

Carter said in a statement that he expects Obama to sign the legislation into law in the next few days.

The legislation had already won approval in the Senate, where it was sponsored by Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill's financial impact would be minimal.

**lookingforthewayback** · 11-02-2009, 07:07 PM

Nice to see congressional brains sometimes do work for the people.

**Olys45** · 11-02-2009, 07:33 PM

I wonder what the downside is... I can't believe that the Dems actually allowed a positive thing through for our armed forces....

Oly

**CoastieN70** · 11-03-2009, 02:59 PM

As it is now, a spouse may retain her/his original sate of residence UNTILL they become employed in the state where they are physically located with their spouses.

For example: A Military Couple from Texas stationed and physicly residing in Virginia may retain their Texas Drivers licenses etc. BUT if the spouse becomes gainfully employed in Virginia that spouse becomes a resident of Virginia and must get a Virginia drivers license and file income taxes in Virginia.

The bill being proposed is a "handjob" that will almost certainly be challanged by the states. Why would any state that has an income tax allow a certain group of indiviguals to work and not pay taxes?

Understand, the ONLY income that is the taxed by these states BY LAW is the NON-MILITARY income brought in by the spouse.

Now let's look at another example. A NY(an income tax state) couple are stationed in FL (a non income tax state) technically any income earned by the military spouse would be taxable in NY if the military spouse maintained NY state residency. Active Duty Military pay is exempted in NY but the service member and his spouse still have to file.

Tax laws for military members can be tricky but are workable to the Military Members advantage. I see this as good intensions on someones part that could bite a Service Member in the ass is He/she is not carefull...

**Chuck Langenderfer** · 11-03-2009, 11:09 PM

I was in the Army, in Texas, with a fellow from NY-long time ago. He and his wife decided to take a vacation to Grand Canyon the coming summer. His drivers license would expire while on vacation so he hurried up and renewed by mail.

He opened the letter when it came back and there was his new nice NY drivers license- with big letters stamped across the face--

GOOD ONLY IN NY STATE

He soon became a resident of Texas--wife did not work.

11-02-2009, 04:47 PM	#1
Popeye Join Date: July 12 2003 Location: Sacramento area, CA Posts: 63,104	Congress extends benefits to military spouses http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...cle=1&catnum=0 Nov 2 03:35 PM US/Eastern By KIMBERLY HEFLING Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress on Monday sent President Barack Obama a bill that allows military spouses to claim residency in the same state as their wives or husbands. Under current law, service members can choose to keep their original residency as they relocate. Spouses who lobbied for the change said having that same right would prevent hassles associated with every move, such as obtaining a new driver's license and reregistering to vote. In some cases, it also eliminates the need for couples to file separate tax returns and lowers the income taxes that some spouses pay. Moving is a ritual repeated nearly every three years on average for military families. The House passed the legislation on a voice vote. Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, a bill sponsor who represents Fort Hood, Texas, said it would give "invaluable relief to numerous military spouses who regularly uproot their entire lives to accommodate our Armed Forces." Carter said in a statement that he expects Obama to sign the legislation into law in the next few days. The legislation had already won approval in the Senate, where it was sponsored by Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill's financial impact would be minimal. The difference between a Socialist and a Communist is that the Socialist doesn't have all the guns yet.

11-02-2009, 07:07 PM	#2
lookingforthewayback Join Date: March 25 2009 Location: Panhandle of Florida Posts: 3,503	Nice to see congressional brains sometimes do work for the people. Tact: Making someone feel at home when you wish they were. "The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." Patrick Henry Our enemies have trained our teachers and professors. Our teachers have trained our children. "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. " Thomas Jefferson “If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams Gary

11-02-2009, 07:33 PM	#3
Olys45 Join Date: June 19 2005 Location: Regretfully, the Land of Oz Posts: 5,148	I wonder what the downside is... I can't believe that the Dems actually allowed a positive thing through for our armed forces.... Oly "At least Jimmy Carter legalized Homebrew!" "Pilots without Maintainers are just pedestrians with a nice leather jacket and cool sunglasses" The Most Dangerous Things Ever Said in the AF An Airman saying "I learned this in Basic Training..." A Staff Sergeant saying "Trust me, sir..." A 2nd Lieutenant saying "Based on my experience..." A Colonel saying "I was just thinking..." A Senior Master Sergeant saying "Watch this sh!#..."

11-03-2009, 02:59 PM	#4
CoastieN70 Join Date: May 30 2001 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 351	As it is now, a spouse may retain her/his original sate of residence UNTILL they become employed in the state where they are physically located with their spouses. For example: A Military Couple from Texas stationed and physicly residing in Virginia may retain their Texas Drivers licenses etc. BUT if the spouse becomes gainfully employed in Virginia that spouse becomes a resident of Virginia and must get a Virginia drivers license and file income taxes in Virginia. The bill being proposed is a "handjob" that will almost certainly be challanged by the states. Why would any state that has an income tax allow a certain group of indiviguals to work and not pay taxes? Understand, the ONLY income that is the taxed by these states BY LAW is the NON-MILITARY income brought in by the spouse. Now let's look at another example. A NY(an income tax state) couple are stationed in FL (a non income tax state) technically any income earned by the military spouse would be taxable in NY if the military spouse maintained NY state residency. Active Duty Military pay is exempted in NY but the service member and his spouse still have to file. Tax laws for military members can be tricky but are workable to the Military Members advantage. I see this as good intensions on someones part that could bite a Service Member in the ass is He/she is not carefull... While the technician is more important than the technology it is good to remember that a 9mm might expand but a .45 won't shrink

11-03-2009, 11:09 PM	#5
Chuck Langenderfer Join Date: July 6 2006 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 514	I was in the Army, in Texas, with a fellow from NY-long time ago. He and his wife decided to take a vacation to Grand Canyon the coming summer. His drivers license would expire while on vacation so he hurried up and renewed by mail. He opened the letter when it came back and there was his new nice NY drivers license- with big letters stamped across the face-- GOOD ONLY IN NY STATE He soon became a resident of Texas--wife did not work. 22 Chuck

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