Tax Problems – Not Just for Democrats Anymore.
13 02 2009
We’ve been hearing an awful lot about Democrats with “tax issues” lately. Potential cabinet members are dropping like flies…well, actually it’s more like they’re getting stuck on that hideous sticky tape stuff, which is a pretty good metaphor for the IRS.
In any case, the Alaska Democratic Party reminds us that tax issues, unlike certain members of congress, do indeed reach across the aisle.
After reading a recent report on Politico.com, Alaska Democratic Chair Patti Higgins has this to say about how Lisa Murkowski answered questions on her tax filing.
“Openness and transparency are especially important now because we need to rebuild trust in our financial institutions and in Congress. Sen. Murkowski’s refusal to answer questions from Politico raises further questions,” Higgins said.
Politico.com lists senators’ answers to a survey about their tax history, noting that many admit errors. Higgins compares and contrasts the two Alaskan senators’ statements and notes a marked difference in how they answered.
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-Alaska)
- Do you prepare your own taxes? Declined to answer.
- If not, who does? Declined to answer.
- Have you or the IRS ever discovered an error on a tax return you’ve filed? Declined to answer.
- Have you ever paid back taxes? Declined to answer.
- If the answer to either 3 or 4 is yes, please explain.
Declined to answer.
NOTE: Murkowski’s office referred Politico to “Sen. Murkowski’s public financial disclosure form.”
SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-Alaska)
- Do you prepare your own taxes? No, I provide the material for the preparation.
- If not, who does? My accountant.
- Have you or the IRS ever discovered an error on a tax return you’ve filed? Yes.
- Have you ever paid back taxes? Yes.
- If the answer to either 3 or 4 is yes, please explain.
- Both the IRS and I have found minor errors over 30-plus years, but nothing significant.
Regarding the question of back taxes, in 2008, as Mayor of Anchorage, I was issued a municipal vehicle as had been the practice for years by previous mayors and in cities across the country. Then the IRS issued a new ruling that use of this car was taxable, so I paid the back taxes owed on the “benefit” for the years I utilized the vehicle. I then got rid of the city vehicle and bought my own car to use for city business.I don’t know if Murkowski’s non-disclosure means anything, but even more interesting is the fact that Higgins brings up tax issues concerning Governor Palin that still remained unresolved.
“Governor Palin also has a number of tax issues and questions that have not been explained or addressed,” Higgins said. “It came to light during Palin’s vice presidential run that she had not reported as income many thousands of dollars in travel expenses she was reimbursed by the State of Alaska for her spouse’s and children’s travel, as well as the per diem payments for 312 nights she stayed at her home in Wasilla, rather than at the Governor’s residence in Juneau. Tax experts have said these types of expenses are reportable as income and, if that is true, taxes Palin owed may not have been paid or paid on time. This is another case where transparency is lacking and information has not been forthcoming,” Higgins said.
These tax issues were raised by The New York Times, National Public Radio and the blog My DD back in October, but not much has been said about it since. I doubt that the IRS needs any reminding, but…
February 13th, 2009 at 7:37 PM
So . . . Murkowski’s not talking and then there is Sarah Palin. Did she ever pay what she owed or is that still one of those unresolved issues. There are so many where she is concerned – it’s nice we have AKM to try to keep things straight.
I liked Begich’s honest and clear answers. It’s an example of someone who has nothing to hide, so he answers the questions rather than trying to give some evasive non-response. Nice.
Pat
February 13th, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Karin…I watched it (also) too and here are a couple of comments that caught my eye.
love4triumph (2 hours ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam Reply
And she’s the GOVERNOR of Alaska? Hmmm, must not be a hard job…
joaodolobo (3 hours ago) Show Hide 0 Marked as spam Reply
painful, very, very, very painful…. you can almost feel her thoughts twisting and whirling. like someone with parkinson’s trying to grab an object, and not being able. you’d just have to pitty her, weren’t she so bloody dangerous.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:13 PM
Aid Flowing to Yukon River Villages
Cindy Beans has been tracking the gifts of peanut butter and rice and coffee for the Emmonak tribal council, where she watched the scene from her office window on Wednesday. Five, six, seven people passed by within 20 minutes on their way to the warehouse, each hauling away a small box of food on plastic sleds and snowmachines.
“Every day when it opens up, there’s a flood of people heading over there,” Beans said. When someone donates money, the council gives out vouchers for free fuel, 10 gallons at a time.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/690057.html
February 13th, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Hubby and I were talking about “taxes” just the other day – the normal everyday working “Joe” has their taxes taken out automatically from their paychecks. We don’t get the “breaks”
This is what you made, these are your deductions, this is what you pay (or get back)
If Palin’s tax records are anywhere near as bad as her governing skills – I MAY actually sympathize with the IRS.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Plenty of people, including yours truly, have commented on this blog about the apparent tax issues related to Sarah Palin. Hell, I last blogged about it just a few weeks ago.
Her time is coming. Be patient. As with the US Attorney’s case against Blogojebitch, these things sometimes takes time. It’s my belief that the per diem thing is going to cause her the most trouble, but then, she’s been little more than trouble since about December 2006.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:28 PM
UK Lady(18:23:18) :
Tax problems for James Dobson and the evangelicals?
________________________________________
Dobson has been investigated before, by the IRS and CO Dept of Taxation. He has created a specific arm that donates to FREEPER causes. This creates distance, but Dobson often pushes voting for certain candidates from his pulpit. This $185K for legal fees may get the IRS on their tail again, and I hope this time Focus gets hit…
February 13th, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Not sure if this has been posted earlier ~~
“”ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The favorite consignment shop of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate, has been forced to change its name after she brought the trendy, upscale Anchorage boutique unintended legal problems during last year’s presidential campaign.
Out of the Closet owner Ellen Arvold said she was served a cease-and-desist letter by a Los Angeles-based chain of thrift stores with the same name – same trademarked name, it turned out – after Palin mentioned her store in an interview.
Rather than fight, Arvold agreed to change the name to Second Run. The change is effective Saturday, the store’s fifth anniversary.”"
WTG SP – read more @ Fairbanks Daily News – Miner
February 13th, 2009 at 8:31 PM
test one two three. …
February 13th, 2009 at 8:33 PM
I blogged about this very topic just a few weeks ago… and lots of people have commented on what appears to be some very obvious tax deficiencies with the Palin house, per diems, travel, etc. Obama’s appointees get raked over the coals about their tax problems but the republicans remain very silent on Palin’s. Very much a double standard. But her time will come as she appears to believe she is invincible.
A Richard Nixon in a skirt.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:44 PM
OT –just heard on FOX Greta is going to Alaska to do another interview with the Palins-didn’t catch the date or time.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Count me among those who refuse to watch gretta interview anyone. Watching her is like watching a dry lawn grow.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Greta is in AK now and will meet Todd, Sarah, and BRISTOL (!) for interviews at the end of Todd’s race. BRISTOL to be interviewed. wow.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Hmmm… I wonder if the Palins give their sponsor-$$ received for the irondog race, and the clothing received – both for the VP run (JUST WHERE HAVE THOSE CLOTHES GONE, SARAH???) as well as the expensive team clothing for the race, and the material support etc that Todd has been getting from the sponsors.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:26 PM
@ I cannot believe that people like John Dickens could say or believe that the Natives of Alaska are trying to pull a scam and that people are not starving and freezing. WTF?
Can we send Victoria Briggs letter to the media as proof of the suffering the that is going on? Argh…Where is Sarah Palin?
@ Ann Strongheart: My husband and I just sent four boxes of food and they should arrive probably next week.
I consulred with my husband, and he said we can adopt one of the families. I am not sure what it entails but we are willing to do whatever we can. Just let me know what we have to do and we will comply. Thank God for you Ann, there is definitely a special place in Heaven for you.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Lori: “BRISTOL to be interviewed. ” I sure hope Greta is making sure it is BRISTOL, and not one of the many stand-in relatives! Also, too, hope that Greta makes sure to post a close-up of Tripp, who by now is – what – 49, 50 days old.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Ann Strongheart aka Struggling in Nunam Iqua: I hope the people in Emmonak and Nunam etc all make sure the peanut butter is not the contaminated one from the Texas company that just went belly-up (instead of facing ‘the music’ and taking responsibility for their immoral actions)!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Oh Ann, I forgot to tell you that when I went to the post office to send the food boxes, a young gitl named Nina who waited on me, wanted to know why I was sending four boxes to Alaska and I told her what was going on up there in Alaska. She immediately asked me about the website. She told me that her husband had been laid off for a few months, they have five youbg sons and that they did not have a lot but she wanted to contribute to people in Alaska. Tears came to my eyes. I didnt want to give her the wrong website because my computer pulls up mudflats automatically. So I asked her to give me her email and she did. I promised that I would send her the Mudflats website. I sent her Mudflats website. I said all of this to say Nina helped regain my faith in the people in our wonderful country. At the same time Ann, I want to say thank you for your compassion, your diligence and your strong biceps. You are appreciated!!
February 13th, 2009 at 10:53 PM
@ Aussie Blue Sky
WOW! That’s the ADN article that Ann was interviewed for – I sure hope she sees it tonight! We’ve been waiting and now it’s here – hurray!
@califpat
Knock off the crying thing because it makes me cry, too! The best place to send folks right at the git go is
http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/how-to-help/ (and AKM added a link to the sidebar here, too)
The site gives all the different info that folks have put together, and it’s a great place to start or add to the dialog that needs to go on for quite some time yet…
And the John Dickens and scam article was DULY NOTED as garbage when it came out. John Dickens is not a village resident, apparently just a visiting village idiot.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:30 PM
There’s a new provision in the stimulus bill that if a governor doesn’t request stimulus funds within 45 days of the bill’s enactment, the state Legislature may do so.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Thanks Martha Unlaska: Didnt mean to make you emotional. I will go to anonymous bloggers ommediately. My eyes are dry but my heart is heavy.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Sorry , didnt mean to mangle your name: Unalaska: Must be tired.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:35 PM
I’m here!!
Sorry I was out delivering food and then visiting in-laws afterwards. The ADN article is downloading now.
Califpat… Please email at nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com and I’ll give you the info on adopting a family.
Ok going to read the article, back in a few to tell you about my important lesson learned tonight delivering food
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Food Drive
c/o Ann Strongheart
P.O. Box 7
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com
February 14th, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Ok folks, here is a fun activity for those of you who want to release a little pent up activist energy.
It’s time again to leverage Sarah Palin’s greatest redeeming quality – her ability to raise money for the causes that oppose her philosophies. She is the ultimate Anti-Brand in the Political Blogosphere and here is the pattern of self-destruction she wreaks whenever she opens her pie hole.
First, Sarah joined McCain on the RNC ticket and threw the election to Obama.
Next, she espoused her ultra-conservative views regards women’s rights to make personal decisions during pregnancy and Planned Parenthood raised $1,000,000 in her name – and got all those “Thank You!” cards delivered to her!
And now, we have the Adopt a Wolf in Sarah Palin’s Name Campaign via the World Wildlife Fund!
It’s very simple. First, go to
http://www.worldwildlife.org/ogc/species_SKU.cfm?cqs=CTGW
Please have a look at the options for your donation and decide whether and what you are willing to give. I chose one with a Wolf Plush Toy and a Birthday Gift Bag! Happy Birthday Sister Sarah!
If you choose to give, you can make the donation in Sarah Palin’s name and send her the Wolf Adoption Kit containing a Letter of Appreciation/Certificate of Adoption/Wolf Photo for each donation!!!!
Follow this quick how-to so you can make sure your gift in Sarah Palin’s name gets booked properly, and her Notificaton Letter, Certificate of Adoption, and Adopted Wolf Photo get sent properly to her home.
1) Add your selection to the Shopping Cart
2) You will be asked to provide your own billing info and shipping info – IMPORTANT – use the name that you wish to appear as the person making the donation on behalf of Sarah in the Letter of Appreciation that will be sent. If you do not want to share your personal information, simply fill in bogus info – I gave the address of a small casino in Vegas!
3) Select the box that says “This gift is for someone else”
4) Fill in the following shipping information:
Sarah Palin
1140 W Parks Hwy
Wasilla AK 99654
5) There is a bonus item offered when you make a donation as a gift in someone’s name – an e-mail “thank you” letter can be sent to them if you simply provide an e-mail address! However, instead of sending that letter to Sarah, I had it sent to Alaskans for Truth to make sure they were aware of the WWF and its request for donations!
6) Use your credit card to make payment.
After you finish the sequence above, the following will appear:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Your donation information appears below:
Donor: BigSlick Anonymous-Blogger
Order ID: WWFDN347252
Amount: $50
Itemization: Gray Wolf Adoption ($50) — A gift for: Sarah Palin
Return to the Gift Center
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It’s that easy.
And it fulfills the pattern. It’s time to complete the Hat Trick.
Please make a donation and adopt a wolf in Sarah Palin’s name! Why not send her a bunch of Wolf Plush Toys for her kids to play with and to remind her that wolves should be cared for and not gunned down in cold blood!
February 14th, 2009 at 12:06 AM
ROFL….
OOH I love it!!! I love what they put….
from ADN.com….
“In Florida, a travel writer and Web site designer named Jane Townsend read about Emmonak and started a blog of her own, collecting stories about the region and listing ways to donate money and food. She called her site “Anonymous Bloggers,” a poke at the complaints Palin made about her unnamed, online critics.”
GOOOOOOOOOOOO Jane!!! GOOOOOOO Anonymousbloggers.com!!!
ROFL, I wonder what SP has to say about that….so much for her complaining about all y’all NOW!!! WOOOO HOOOOO
I’ve said it before and I will say it again…
If it weren’t for all you MUDPUPS and Anonymous Bloggers the YK Delta, atleast Nunam Iqua for sure, wouldn’t be getting the help we desperately need!!! QUYANA CAKNEQ a million times over!!!!
OK now my important lesson learned from delivering 11 boxes of food to needy families tonight…
After a blizzard…. know where the snow drifts are BEFORE you go out in the dark and try to figure out the maze/obstacle course of gigantic snow drifts to get to peoples houses!!!
ROFL I was going in circles we have some drifts that are over 20 feet high. My hubby was helping me tonight and he was following me on his snowmachine, I had my snowmachine with the sled behind it full of boxes and bags of food. I can just imagine him shaking his head at me as I am driving in circles trying to figure out how to get to houses, trying to avoid NOT ONLY the drifts BUT ALSO the helical piers (PIPES/ANCHORS) for the water sewer lines sticking up outta the snow everywhere. It was like a maze/obstacle course. And then some peoples houses had 10 to 20 foot drifts around them so I had to figure out how to get down the drifts so I could go UP their stairs. HEE HEE it was just fun.
OOOH did I mention I was doing all of this in the DARK??? Atleast it was warm, didn’t even need snow pants, but did remember my boots this time. It’s 31 outside right now.
What a night. But I love it!! Even though I probably used an extra gallon of gas going in circles, I was laughing (ok and cussing sometimes shh don’t tell LOL) trying to figure out how to get where I needed to go!! But the families were soo HAPPY, and so relieved. Seeing their smiles and hearing their thank you’s just makes my day. I feel like Santa kinda!! LOL
I hope that it makes y’all’s day too!! Because if it wasn’t for you all I wouldn’t be going in circles delivering food
OK ….OT
On the last thread y’all were talking about Valentines Day… well I gotta tell you I am already having a WONDERFUL Valentines Day. My hubby went to Emmonak today to cash his check and brought back the most WONDERFUL Valentines Presents…. wanna know what he got me??
Guess!!
OK you’ll never guess…. heee hee, I am ecstatic!! I got 5 dozen eggs, and 10 lbs of fresh potatoes!! WOOO HOOO I love it!! I am already dreaming and drooling thinking about what I am gonna make. Already boiling eggs as I type this, for breakfast and potato salad tomorrow. MMMM maybe a quiche!! haven’t had that for a long time. OOOH egg salad sandwich!!! mmmm the list just goes on and on. oooh homemade Cream of Potato and Sausage SOUP!! mmmmm
The only way he coulda topped that was if he could have brought back a green salad then I’d be in HEAVEN!! That is definitely one thing I truly miss, is fresh veggies. When we go to Anchorage, I eat salad EVERY DAY sometimes for LUNCH and DINNER LOL.
Ok, I think this post is getting toooooo long. So I am gonna go check on my eggs and flip through my cook book and see what other wonderful things I can make now!!
QUYANA CAKNEQ AGAIN mudpuppies!!!
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Food Drive
c/o Ann Strongheart
P.O. Box 7
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com
February 14th, 2009 at 1:40 AM
Ann – Lucky you! With eggs and potatoes, you can make the best French Farmer’s Omelet, or German Peasant Breakfast. (Depends on where you are, same recipe!)
I didn’t get in on the cupcake thing – I was busy getting ready for our Valentine’s celebration, but it sure did make my mouth water! I work in a winery, and today we are having a Chocolate and Wine Tasting event including chocolate fondue, chocolate dipped apricots and strawberries, hand crafted chocolate candies, a strolling musician, and, of course, wine. How romantic is that!!!???
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone – wish you were here to celebrate with me!
February 14th, 2009 at 7:48 AM
I just had eggs for breakfast and then sent Ann $20.00. Both felt good.
February 14th, 2009 at 8:13 AM
@ Ann,
You are so darn cute! You had me smiling with your rendition of “where are the houses?” Heh, heh…
You ENJOY those wonderful, magical eggs!
Big, warm & happy hugs!
February 14th, 2009 at 8:16 AM
Hmmm… Greta will interview Sarah and Bristol…
As far as I know, many if not most interviews of Sarah have to have ’something in it’ for her, so I suspect she (or Bristol) will get paid by Faux Noise.
I was wondering if that fact would potentially go against the Alaskan law of not making money from the fact you are a public servant? Just wondering…
Also, too: I betcha she will disguise the money and tell them to ‘make a donation’ to either a savings account for Bristol/Levi/Trig/Tripp (your choice), or to her SarahPac.
IRS, ARE YOU WATCHING AND TAKING NOTES?
February 14th, 2009 at 1:25 PM
I’m guessing that the Greta interview will feature Sarah in red and Bristol holding both Trig and Tripp on her lap.
All of the money will probably go to Bristol since she doesn’t hold office…at least that will be how SP explains it to the IRS.
I am a former teacher. I made very little money but paid my taxes. The year I was married, we moved away and I did not work. I’m telling you, the IRS was all over my case to prove that I did not earn a paycheck that year. If I had, the amount due to the IRS wouldn’t have equalled one day of SP’s per diem.
February 14th, 2009 at 4:40 PM
May she and her husband go down like Al Capone. And many other tax cheats.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Ann, your Husband is a true romantic! Seriously. He’s been so patient & helpful with all the needs of your Food Donor program, what a beautiful man!!!
I’m trying to figure how he managed to get those eggs & potatoes home without freezing, but then again I think you said the temps were warmer. I don’t think he could stash them under his shirt.
Happy VD! Give a smoosh to Precious CC for us, will ya?