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.

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.

Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to Fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Senate Seat

Source: NY Daily News

New York Governor David Paterson has chosen Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, a second-term congresswoman from upstate NY to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Senate seat after the hot mess that ensued from Carolyn Kennedy abruptly withdrew her name from consideration. Gov. Paterson and his aides created more drama about Carolyn Kennedy's withdrawal and that was terrible. They knee-capped her in a major way, which I suspect will come back to bite the governor if he decides to seek re-election.

The 42-year-old Hudson Valley Democrat will reportedly be named by the governor at an announcement Friday in Albany. Gillibrand was considered one of the top three or four contenders in Paterson's secretive selection process, where the front-runners were considered to be Kennedy and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Of course, Ms. Gillibrand did not escape the wrath of the other contenders, led by more senior politicians, including Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who criticized her support of more conservative issues such as gun ownership rights was out of step with most New York Democrats.

Gillibrand is a proven vote getter in an eastern New York district that sprawls from the mid-Hudson Valley to north of Albany. She defeated a long-term Republican incumbent in 2006 and won re-election last year by a wide margin.

Gillibrand is married with a son and worked as a lawyer before challenging Republican John Sweeney in 2006 to represent New York's 20th District. Her upset win came after a police report was leaked shortly before the election that showed Sweeney's wife had called 911 in what appeared to be a domestic violence incident. Gillibrand is considered one of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats, a stance that reflects her largely rural district. She voted last year against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill.

Gillibrand graduated from Dartmouth College in 1988 and earned a law degree at UCLA in 1991. She is the daughter of Albany lobbyist Douglas Rutnik. Source: NY Daily News

Okay, so there we have it--Senator Gillibrand. This drama with Carolyn Kennedy has come to a much-needed end. I hope Gov. Paterson realizes that his poor handling of this process will come back to haunt him should he have ambitions to run for re-election.

Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to Fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Senate Seat

Source: NY Daily News

New York Governor David Paterson has chosen Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, a second-term congresswoman from upstate NY to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Senate seat after the hot mess that ensued from Carolyn Kennedy abruptly withdrew her name from consideration. Gov. Paterson and his aides created more drama about Carolyn Kennedy's withdrawal and that was terrible. They knee-capped her in a major way, which I suspect will come back to bite the governor if he decides to seek re-election.

The 42-year-old Hudson Valley Democrat will reportedly be named by the governor at an announcement Friday in Albany. Gillibrand was considered one of the top three or four contenders in Paterson's secretive selection process, where the front-runners were considered to be Kennedy and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Of course, Ms. Gillibrand did not escape the wrath of the other contenders, led by more senior politicians, including Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who criticized her support of more conservative issues such as gun ownership rights was out of step with most New York Democrats.

Gillibrand is a proven vote getter in an eastern New York district that sprawls from the mid-Hudson Valley to north of Albany. She defeated a long-term Republican incumbent in 2006 and won re-election last year by a wide margin.

Gillibrand is married with a son and worked as a lawyer before challenging Republican John Sweeney in 2006 to represent New York's 20th District. Her upset win came after a police report was leaked shortly before the election that showed Sweeney's wife had called 911 in what appeared to be a domestic violence incident. Gillibrand is considered one of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats, a stance that reflects her largely rural district. She voted last year against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill.

Gillibrand graduated from Dartmouth College in 1988 and earned a law degree at UCLA in 1991. She is the daughter of Albany lobbyist Douglas Rutnik. Source: NY Daily News

Okay, so there we have it--Senator Gillibrand. This drama with Carolyn Kennedy has come to a much-needed end. I hope Gov. Paterson realizes that his poor handling of this process will come back to haunt him should he have ambitions to run for re-election.