Politics: February 2009 Archives

Councilman Barry, give me a call, I'll take care of your taxes.

Apparently Marion Barry does not understand tax law or court orders.  I'm an accountant and I don't understand all of the tax law, so I don't blame him on that part.  But I'm fairly sure I know that if I was told by the courts to file on time, I'd file on time.  But not filing his 2007 taxes, prosecutors are asking a judge to jail Barry because he is violating the terms of his agreement from the last bought with taxes.  Barry told NBC4 yesterday that he has not been served with notice of his tax issue.  Really?  You need to be notified?  Can't call your CPA?  Apparently he is taking the "Mayor for Life" title too seriously.  It does not make you exempt from court orders.

Not to be bashing Barry.  I think he did much good for the city.  In fact, if he were still mayor when Jack Kent Cooke built Fedex Field in Maryland, I don't think the Redskins would have moved.  And everyone has their faults.

His fellow council member, Jim Graham, defends Barry by stating he should not be locked up.  He references Timothy Geithner, the new Treasury Secretary, by not filing accurate tax statements.  I'm not dismissing that charge, but Geithner filed his taxes.  He failed to properly report some tax items and essentially underpaid.  That is different from Barry, who apparently has not filed his 2007 taxes.

If Barry really wants to avoid the hassle, hire a tax accountant and get the 2007 taxes filed ASAP.  I don't know how complex his issues are, but I'm guessing it won't take too long.  I'm not a regular tax return preparer, but if he can't afford it on his DC Council salary, I'll do it free for him.  Hit me up!  Then again, if he is making what this old Post article quotes, I think he afford to pay a trained tax professional.
By no means the end of partisanship, the nomination of Republican Judd Gregg as Commerce Secretary shows a willingness to change on two front.  First, if Gregg is approved, he will join the Democratic Obama administration.  That much is obvious.  Second, his Senate seat from New Hampshire will be filled by a Republican to not change the balance of power in the Senate. This is the more significant move as New Hampshire's governor is a Democrat and he could have prevented Gregg's acceptance of the nomination as Gregg his issues giving up his seat to a potential filibuster proof Senate.

The nomination also brings some good news on the Cabinet front as Bill Richardson, Timothy Geithner, and Tom Daschle have marred the nominations.  Daschle has withdrawn his nomination today because of tax issues.  Richardson had done so weeks ago which opened up the nomination for Gregg and Geithner weathered the storm to be approved.

Let's hope the Daschle scandal becomes the last so that the Obama Cabinet can be full and get to work.

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    This page is a archive of entries in the Politics category from February 2009.

    Politics: January 2009 is the previous archive.

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