Nearly 10 percent of Georgia State Legislators are Late Filing or Paying Their State Taxes

Sometimes people have legitimate reasons for being late with filing their state and federal taxes, but I think legislators who deliberately skirt the law to avoid paying taxes should be punished to the fullest extent possible. There is a serious disconnect between their failure to file and their positions as legislators who can affect our lives in so many ways. According to the Telegraph, nearly 10 percent of Georgia state legislators are late filing or paying their state taxes, and state Sen. Robert Brown is apparently among them.

Brown, D-Macon, said Wednesday he’s not sure whether he actually owes the state or federal government any money because he hasn’t filed tax returns. He said he’s gotten extensions, but he declined to give more information or say for what years he received filing extensions.

He told Atlanta station WXIA-TV that he had not filed his income taxes at least in the past two years, according to a report on the station’s Web site. He volunteered the information while arguing against a change in Senate rules that would make it easier for the body to take action against, or even expel, members who don’t pay their taxes. The Internal Revenue Service ought to undertake such studies in all states and I am pretty sure they will hit a gold mine. There’ll be many more scumbag legislators who deliberately avoid paying their taxes.

That effort came in response to the discovery late last week that 19 legislators had failed to pay income taxes, some for several years. Those legislators have not been identified, due to Georgia Department of Revenue and federal Internal Revenue Service privacy policies. But a list, without names, was prepared and given to the chairmen of the House and Senate ethics committees, at their request, Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham said.

Graham said Wednesday that the list has grown to 22, with three of the legislators actually having liens levied against them or wages garnished so taxes could be collected. That would make their names public record, but Graham said Wednesday evening that he didn’t know them off the top of his head. Source: Macon.com

What is sad is that some of these legislators are repeat offenders. They ought to be expelled from their positions. I can see one time or two times at the most, but to be a repeat offender basically means these people don’t care and they should not be in such a position to effect change in Georgia. Another interesting nugget, they are both Democrats and Republicans among the 22 members.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Filed under: Democrats, Failure to Pay Taxes, Internal Revenue Service, Repeat Offenders, Republicans, State Senator Robert Brown, State Taxes

Tax Rebate Checks in Limbo, Republicans Block Changes to Stimulus Bill

People, don’t hold your breath that we will get our rebate checks by May. Just as I had expected, the Democrats and the Republicans are fighting over changes to the stimulus package. One would think that they would be mindful of their actions given we are in the midst of campaigns towards the upcoming presidential elections.

The fate of $600-$1,200 rebate checks for more than 100 million Americans is in limbo after Senate Republicans blocked a bid by Democrats to add $44 billion in help for the elderly, disabled veterans, the unemployed and businesses to the House-passed economic aid package. This is further proof that the Republican Party does not give a damn about poor people in our country and furthers the urgency and paramount importance that we must elect a Democrat as the next president.

News reports said that GOP senators banded together Wednesday to thwart the $205 billion plan, leaving Democrats with a difficult choice either to quickly accept a House bill they have said is inadequate or risk being blamed for delaying a measure designed as a swift shot in the arm for the lagging economy.

The tally was 58-41 to end debate on the Senate measure, just short of the 60 votes Democrats would have needed to scale procedural hurdles and move the bill to a final vote. Eight Republicans — four of them up for re-election this year — joined Democrats to back the plan, bucking GOP leaders and President Bush, who objected to the costly add-ons.

Republicans said they were ready to accept rebates for seniors and disabled veterans and accused Democrats of delaying the stimulus plan for political gain and loading it down with special-interest extras.

Media reports state that the White House, which has carefully avoided issuing threats about the package despite Bush’s opposition to the add-ons, urged the Senate to move fast to approve a stimulus plan. “To be effective, this economic growth package must be timely, so it is crucial that the Senate now move quickly to pass a bill that will deliver relief to our economy,” press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement after the vote. I am sure that no-one gives a damn what President Bush is saying at this point, but this underscores the point that the Republican Party does not care about poor people, the elderly and paralyzed veterans in this country.

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois flew to Washington for the vote. GOP front-runner John McCain of Arizona did not vote. Further proof that McCain does not care about these groups contrary to his statements. In otherwords, the vote on this bill was not important enough for him to dignify it with his vote.

Supporters actually had 59 votes in favor of the Democratic proposal, but Harry Reid switched his vote to ‘no’ at the last moment, a parliamentary move that allows him to bring the measure up for a revote. Republican leaders objected to add-ons such as a $14.5 billion unemployment extension for those whose benefits have run out, $1 billion in heating aid for the poor and tax breaks for renewable energy producers and coal companies.

Filed under: Barack Obama, Democrats, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Rebate checks, Republicans

Ann Coulter Would Rather Vote for Hillary Clinton Than John McCain

This is deep…. Ann Coulter, who we all love to hate, has said that she would rather vote for Hillary Clinton than John McCain. That’s some scary shit. In what can be considered a conservative backlash that is starting to build against John McCain, the conservative commentator said that she would be prepared to vote for Hillary Clinton. That is big considering that she absolutely hates the Clintons and it says how little faith some people have in John McCain.

Speaking on Fox’s “Hannity and Colmes,” Coulter said that the GOP frontrunner was little more than a Republican in name only. “If you are looking at substance rather than if there is an R or a D after his name, manifestly, if he’s our candidate, than Hillary is going to be our girl, because she’s more conservative than he is,” Coulter said. “I think she would be stronger on the war on terrorism.”

She cited some of his positions, including his strong anti-torture stance — and said he and Clinton differ little on the issues. Coulter also said she is prepared to campaign on Clinton’s behalf should McCain win the party’s nomination. “John McCain is not only bad for Republicanism, which he definitely is — he is bad for the country,” she said.

Talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh said Wednesday McCain’s rise was the product of a ‘fractured’ conservative base and an “uninspiring” GOP presidential field. “He is not the choice of conservatives, as opposed to the choice of the Republican establishment — and that distinction is key,” Limbaugh continued. “The Republican establishment, which has long sought to rid the party of conservative influence since Reagan, is feeling a victory today as well as our friends in the media.” Oouch! That hurts!

Essentially what this means is that the Democratic Party must be a unified body going into the elections no matter who the nominee is. Funny, Coulter never said that she would vote for Obama. I wonder if she would vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee or sit out the elections. Personally, I have never cared much for a McCain presidency, which would mean we would be in Iraq for 100 years, as told in his words. That’s a scary proposition. You be the judge….

Filed under: Ann Coulter, Democrats, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Presidential Elections, Republicans, Sean Hannity