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.

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