Regulation Roundup

There are some strange regulations out there:

• Part of the 70,000-page tax code is devoted to alpacas. There is even a website, alpacas-4-sale.com, that asks, “Why not let Uncle Sam help you buy your alpacas?” Good question. After all, under section 179 of the IRS Code, you can deduct up to $24,000 worth of alpaca purchases per year.
• “Bipartisan” usually means “twice as stupid.” For example, the bipartisan transportation bill that passed the Senate and is now under House consideration contains a provision that would give the IRS the power to confiscate your passport if you owe back taxes.
• Barking man cited for violating local noise ordinance. Very, very close to a man-bites-dog story. It also sounds like the guy could use some help.
• A 6-year-old Georgia child was handcuffed and put in a police station holding cell for throwing a temper tantrum at school. The local police chief is defending the action, claiming it was done by the book. Some book that must be.
• California agencies are required to submit a slew of annual reports to state legislators. For example, California’s Department of Fish and Game is legally required to submit an annual report on how many kangaroos are hunted in Australia each year. Governor Jerry Brown unveiled a plan this week to eliminate 718 (!) of these “unnecessary bureaucratic” reports.
• The EPA spent part of its $10 billion-plus budget to create an online video game called Greenquest.