Congress Questions Passport Fees

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - First, Americans endured exasperating delays and ruined vacations from passport processing backlogs. Now, a congressional investigation indicates they may have been overcharged, too — perhaps by more than $100 million a year.

Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the State Department and Postal Service quietly gouged U.S. citizens over the government's $97 passport fees, even as new anti-terrorism laws require more travelers to carry passports. They are asking the Bush administration for an accounting of where the passport profits go.

Over the past year, as the government issued nearly 14 million new passports, it collected at least $111.4 million more in passport fees than its stated costs, according to calculations by The Associated Press based on figures from State Department and congressional investigators.

The government's standard $97 fee is just a start for some people. The State Department offers to send travelers a passport in a hurry for an extra $60 plus overnight delivery costs. Some private companies offer speedy service for $180 or more. Passport photos typically cost $15.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071102/ap_on_go_co/passport_fees;_ylt=AoT.WvyooU99Y_jgWNT4kPSs0NUE

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I question the legality of our own country requiring passports for us at all. Seems to me that it is against the Constitution to demand a passport to leave the country and equally so to demand one to reenter the country as long as you can provide some kind of proof that you are a citizen. And to demand that you pay for the right to reenter your own country is ludicrous. Has anyone ever challenged this in court?

I have to resort to kicking myself? Ouch, that hurt.

No doubt to bush cronies, ergo the major fork up.

This administration is a train wreck

is being too kind to them.

Got here in about 2 weeks!

(It is UGLY though- the inside pages aren't the sort of dignified document my last ones have been- this one just drips with American hubris type images).

It's actually going to be embarrassing when I get it it stamped. Not to mention the chip....