Good news: Another Obama appointee owes back taxes
posted at 5:32 pm on March 2, 2009 by Allahpundit
First came righteous outrage over Geithner, then sweet schadenfreude over Killefer and Daschle, then wearisome exasperation with Hilda Solis, and now … this. Much like The One’s spending, the sheer volume of this nonsense has left me numb to it.
Despite the error, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued a statement calling Kirk “the right person for this job,” and said he would attempt to have the nomination moved through the panel quickly.
Kirk routinely gave any speaking fees he earned to Austin College, the committee said, and did not list them on his tax returns.
Instead, the committee said he should have listed the fees as income, then claimed them as charitable donations. The estimated effect was to reduce Kirk’s tax bill by an estimated $5,800, according to the report.
Kirk also deducted more than $17,000 as entertainment expenses for the cost of Mavericks’ tickets. The committee said he substantiated about $9,900 of that amount, and will owe about $2,600 in taxes on the balance.
Geithner and Solis squeaked through, Killefer and Daschle disintegrated. Place your bets on whether Kirk drops out or not; I’m guessing that the Burris effect will ensure he’s confirmed. Exit question: How about a unified party effort to leverage these scandals into a push to simplify the tax code? It’d give the GOP a solid policy cause that the public would support, and The One is politically vulnerable enough on the point that he’d think twice before resisting.
Blowback
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There is no pattern.
artist on March 2, 2009 at 5:34 PM
I think you missed a couple agains…
thecollegepolitico on March 2, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Hey, Mr. President. I think you had better vet your vetters.
I’m just sayin’.
kingsjester on March 2, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Allah, I think what would be newsworthy would be an appointee that didn’t cheat on their taxes.
Vashta.Nerada on March 2, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Ron Kirk is a black man. He will be fine.
carbon_footprint on March 2, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Well no sh*t, it is a Obama administration position and he did not pay his taxes.
WashJeff on March 2, 2009 at 5:36 PM
I’m starting to think that’s the whole idea. Once again, this whole thing is a test of the Big Lie theory.
Jim Treacher on March 2, 2009 at 5:36 PM
“Distractions, I tell you. Mere distractions!
Now please let me get back to doing what I do best – destroying the country.”
- PBHO
BardMan on March 2, 2009 at 5:36 PM
The jokes just write themselves, don’t they?
Maybe Obama can balance the budget after all…just name every prominent Democrat to his Cabinet and make them pay their back taxes!
rockmom on March 2, 2009 at 5:37 PM
nothing here…move on…hope…change.
NO GOOD, LYING, ELITIST, LIBERAL, DOGS…makes me sick!
winston on March 2, 2009 at 5:37 PM
This is becoming farcical. Do no big time Democrats pay their taxes? Where is my tea bag?
Mason on March 2, 2009 at 5:37 PM
routine
Wade on March 2, 2009 at 5:37 PM
again and again and again
……..
Neon Knights?
artist on March 2, 2009 at 5:38 PM
I’m cool with it, as long as you keep the Dow above 1,500.
What, no promises?
artist on March 2, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Exit answer: Hope n Change, The Un-Patriots.
Thank you, Joe Biden.
locomotivebreath1901 on March 2, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Would we even have to raise taxes if Obama’s cabinet just started paying what they owed?
Chuck Schick on March 2, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Obama wanted to cut the deficit in half, I didn’t know he would do it by forcing his nominees to pay their back taxes.
portlandon on March 2, 2009 at 5:40 PM
The speaking fees bit is rather minor, IMHO, as it could be seen as an accounting error. However, deduction of the Mavericks tickets is more troubling.
The big error here is on Team Obama. You’d think after 3 big tax bungles, they’d be sure to perform the tax equivalent of a prostate exam on any big-position appointees. But they keep making the same fundamental error, which calls into question their competence.
Nethicus on March 2, 2009 at 5:42 PM
I am not trying to defend this guy – but I was watching this in the news today, and it does seem to be an exceedingly fine technical point. If I went to a university to give some talks and instructed the school to not give me any money at all but divert it to a scholarship, I would *think* that I did not owe taxes for that. At the very least, he can claim charitable deduction for that money, correct? I am glad Turbo Tax does the right thing for me, at least I am not Tim Geithner :)
peter_griffin on March 2, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Resume enhancer…..
……… if a brother can cheat on his taxes, he is “the right man for the job”.
Seven Percent Solution on March 2, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Can you get on this most intelligent cabinet evah! if you don’t have tax problems?
jukin on March 2, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Joe Biden is a patriot and has no “hiccups” on his taxes because he does not have to complicate them with things like charitable contributions and speaking fees (no sane person would pay money to hear him speak).
Joe Caps on March 2, 2009 at 5:44 PM
I would love nothing better. Taxes should just be a vehicle for the government to obtain the money that it needs to do business. That business being protecting the citizens and some infrastructure such as building roads – nothing more. Right now, the tax code is being used as government coercion.
InCali on March 2, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Neither party wants tax simplification. It’s the source of their power. Disgusting. Time for a revolution, call it a reboot.
aquaviva on March 2, 2009 at 5:47 PM
There is no pattern here.
There is no pork in this bill.
Obama will not raise taxes on 95% of the pop.
I was just helping that goat over the fence.
The check is in the mail.
I didn’t she was only 14.
TheSitRep on March 2, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Headline at Redstate:
Ron Kirk Nomination Raises Question: Is Obama Vetting To Ensure He Picks People Who Do Not Pay Taxes?
INC on March 2, 2009 at 5:47 PM
How do these people get away with not filing or paying? I’m 1 day late on my monthly 941 deposit and my ass is eaten alive by late fees and interest.
lorien1973 on March 2, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Most. Ethical. Administration. Evah!
/sarc
Norwegian on March 2, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Tax problems & other problems are job requirements for Dear Leader’s administration.
And yes Allah, this is a perfect opportunity for the Republicans to make an issue of the tax code.
1) Democrats can’t follow the tax code.
2) What is the cost of compliance for the rest of us.
rbj on March 2, 2009 at 5:49 PM
I wouldn’t trust ‘em to vet their pants.
CK MacLeod on March 2, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Quit it. If you are in a line of work where your tax liabilities become too confusing for you to understand, then hire a tax accountant who can understand them. If you don’t want to have to do this then choose a line of work where your taxes are simple. Other people should not have to pick up the slack because these people are too lazy/not intelligent enough to figure out their own taxes.
Joe Caps on March 2, 2009 at 5:51 PM
This is a poorly written story.
Why? Because in these two sentences, the writer garbles the fact that this POS nominee failed to reported speech income of an unreported amount but proceeded to claim that same amount as a charitable deduction. Does the “estimated effect” apply to what this guy did, or to what he should have done.
Maybe it’s merely a point of missing emphasis, but it just demonstrates the bias in media reporting. If the contributions (presumably equal to the unreported income) reduced his taxes by $5,800 and, say, he was in the 35% bracket, he failed to report income of about $16,571 ($5,800/.35). But the writer doesn’t lay that out.
BuckeyeSam on March 2, 2009 at 5:52 PM
I thought we have already seen this movie…..
Hog Wild on March 2, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Well, I mean, if he is the right man for the job, how can I possibly protest? The Geithner thing has been working out pretty well.
myrenovations on March 2, 2009 at 5:55 PM
AMEN AMEN!!
hillbilly on March 2, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Shoot. I already used all my good comments on all the other tax cheats.
anniekc on March 2, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Well, Obama don’t want to give the impression that there’s different rules for different people.
the_nile on March 2, 2009 at 5:59 PM
The Vetter’s (WH Council Greig)wife didn’t pay her taxes either!
Now we know why Dems love to raise taxes. They don’t pay their share. Pitiful. Shameless.
TN Mom on March 2, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Save them on your clipboard so that you can copy/paste them as needed.
genso on March 2, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Let him keep the money, it’s the least America can do to atone for 10,000 years of oppression and slavery
Bishop on March 2, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Ron Kirk is a black man. He will be fine.
carbon_footprint on March 2, 2009 at 5:36 PM
darkpixel on March 2, 2009 at 6:00 PM
I saw this very nominee at breakfast yesterday morning in Dallas. He sure was looking around suspiciously, like he was going to walk the check. Maybe he was just jittery from all the free coffee he was consuming!
Seriously! This man is a partner in a very large and well known law firm. They are not the kind of firm that hires people who “forget” things.
http://www.vinson-elkins.com/lawyers/RonKirk.aspx
I personally have known attorneys who were asked to leave this firm for making lesser mistakes.
lawman2 on March 2, 2009 at 6:01 PM
again, and again, and again… I will use ‘Preview’…
darkpixel on March 2, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Neon Knights?
artist on March 2, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Cry out to legions of the brave
Time again to save us from the jackals of the street
Bishop on March 2, 2009 at 6:02 PM
No end in sight.
Skandia Recluse on March 2, 2009 at 6:03 PM
This is just amazing. The Post Turtle is soooo in over his head. His Presidency is even worse than many here predicted – which is pretty amazing – and colossally BAD for the U.S.A. as a whole.
:_(
RedNewEnglander on March 2, 2009 at 6:05 PM
yawn
donnak on March 2, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Tax cheats in the Obama administration are a dime a dozen.
Probably about what stocks will be worth by the time they are done.
Jvette on March 2, 2009 at 6:08 PM
He donated his speaking fees but didn’t list them as income? Not brilliant, I suppose, but it’s more an indictment on the complexity of the tax code than on him, dontcha think?
What page of the 88,000 pages of tax code is that on, anyway?
pugwriter on March 2, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Charlie Rangel said its no big deal…he could’ve made the same mistake
AmericanUnderground on March 2, 2009 at 6:12 PM
pugwriter on March 2, 2009 at 6:10 PM
He did not pay the taxes before donating.
They are having a hard time finding people because of mistakes like this.
getalife on March 2, 2009 at 6:13 PM
-
Pillow talk at the WH…
RalphyBoy on March 2, 2009 at 6:13 PM
I appreciate Allah’s suggestion of undertaking a movement for simplification, but what, in truth, is at the core of these tax problems? Dishonesty.
1. Geithner signed statements and tax returns under penalty of perjury, and still for several years he omitted significant amounts of income from his tax returns. He received money for services, and yet he didn’t seem to suspect that it might be income that he needed to report on his tax return. His conduct still boggles my mind.
2. Daschle has been around a long time–and so have imputed income rules. He received a very valuable fringe benefit, and yet he never thought to include the value of that benefit in his tax return. This is Taxation 101. I know; I learned about them in a tax accounting course in undergrad, an income tax course in law school, and another income tax course in an LL.M. program. Daschle also claimed income tax deductions for donations to organizations that weren’t tax-qualified charities. In that regard he was either too lazy or dishonest. It is very easy to confirm the status of a donee organization.
3. This trade rep was paid cash for public speaking. He provided a service and was paid a fee. Doesn’t that sound like income on which you must pay income tax? Indeed, he might also owe some self-employment taxt too. Whatever the case, this is Taxation 101. I might have shrugged if I’d learned that this guy didn’t include the income and that he didn’t deduct the contributions to the charity. But this clown received an unwarranted $5,800 tax benefit by taking a deduction when we didn’t simultaneously report the income. I won’t bother with the deductions for the business entertainment.
In the end, none of these problems go to the issue of simplifying the tax code. Instead, they go solely to the lack of character and integrity of the people that Obama is nominating to high office.
BuckeyeSam on March 2, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Finally, racial equality. They cheat on taxes too.
BobMbx on March 2, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Can we push the “do over” button?
Benjamin9 on March 2, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Sorry, I was just addressing what Allah wrote vis-a-vis the Burris effect. Kirk will not step down and will be safe from having to step down because he is black.
carbon_footprint on March 2, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Well he’s consistent. Just another ‘do as I say, not as I do’ Democrat.
GarandFan on March 2, 2009 at 6:16 PM
See- THIS is why we need Rush Limbaugh. The MSM will remain silent on this latest testament to Barry’s brilliance, and FOX will have to be all nicey-nice with it, but Rush has the forum and audience to RIP the Obama (ha) administration! We don’t have the left dominated MSM, (er- everything, but FOX) to tell the truth, to call a spade a spade- and no, that isn’t a racist reference- to throw their own ineptitude back in their faces! Rush does that brilliantly. The cowards on these threads can call him arrogant and “mean”, but they aren’t helping the cause one bit to think we can contiue to “play fair” and “be nice”.
anniekc on March 2, 2009 at 6:17 PM
-
Don’t you guys get tired of defending these crooks and idiots? He should’a, could’a, didn’t pay his taxes correctly.
-
But now he wants to play in the big league? Please. Obama will run out of friends and cronies if we hold them to a real standard for these positions.
RalphyBoy on March 2, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Do you think if maybe we had a 100% tax rate no one would have tax problems? Think of all the problems this would solve – vetting by politicians, work (wouldn’t have to), mortgage deductions…the list is endless. Sarc.
Same effect with a better outcome with a flat tax. I know, the politicians’ power would be gone, but what the He!!
hip shot on March 2, 2009 at 6:21 PM
There is a technical term for this type of society: Ant Colony
BobMbx on March 2, 2009 at 6:22 PM
The media would have a field day with a Republican administration making this many stupid moves.
How many SNL skit ideas would have produced too? One with a running gag about not playing taxes.
Inept!
hawkdriver on March 2, 2009 at 6:22 PM
My money is on estate taxes as the next target. So, if you plan on dying, do your children a favor and get on with it.
genso on March 2, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Culture of Corruption???
RealDemocrat on March 2, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Bonus prize: Not only is he a tax cheat, but his racist views make Rev. Wright look reasonable and moderate.
The only trade this moron knows about is trading political favors for cash.
Damiano on March 2, 2009 at 6:26 PM
OK…so he’s overqualified. Somebody has to do it. We won’t get the full effect of this screwing til all the players are in place. ;)
genso on March 2, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Sure, right after he claims it as income.
Peter, if this was some Joe the Plumber type, your argument would make sense. Problem is, he isn’t a plumber. He’s a Cabinet nominee; that implies a higher number of brain synapses firing as a team than your average bear.
I wish I could just ignore claiming income on my taxes. It’s a silly, right?
BobMbx on March 2, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Adminstration is full of crooks and tax cheats. You’d think people would notice that.
Obama gives an executive order that lobbyists can’t be in the same part of the administration that they lobbied for. Unless, of course, Obama decides they can.
You’d think people would notice that, too.
I’m a very patient person, but this is getting hard to be patient about.
Alana on March 2, 2009 at 6:41 PM
It is only sad.
Streecar on March 2, 2009 at 6:43 PM
By which I mean, all this is getting hard to be patient about, not just the tax cheats and lobbyists. Everything.
Alana on March 2, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Joe the plumber is vilified for a $1200 tax bill, and humiliated over a judgment lien for an unpaid hospital bill; Obama cabinet nominees steal ten times that amount and get appointed to a powerful position in government. Yep, that’s about it.
FalseProfit on March 2, 2009 at 6:49 PM
I read the NY Daily News article that Obama’s new Urban Czar likes pay-to-play also. Maybe they can share an office together.
TN Mom on March 2, 2009 at 6:56 PM
At the very least there should be mandatory IQ and memory tests for all Obama appointees. Those that pass should then be questioned under truth serum. Ditto for congress critters.
MB4 on March 2, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Takin’ it to dah man.
SouthernGent on March 2, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Do any democrats pay their taxes?
DAT60A3 on March 2, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Only the apostates.
MB4 on March 2, 2009 at 7:01 PM
If Obama would get the dems to pay their taxes, he would not have to raise taxes.
Johan Klaus on March 2, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Another way of saving on S.S. and medicare.
Johan Klaus on March 2, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Hey give Obama credit. How many democrap politicians do you think are in Chicago who are not crooked? It’s hard to find good help these days. He’s just doing the best that he can.
kanda on March 2, 2009 at 7:11 PM
I’ve spoken to libs that state that what all these tax problems show is that the tax code is too complex and that we need the flat tax.
*shrug*
strictnein on March 2, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Too many restrictions, not enough eligible.
Johan Klaus on March 2, 2009 at 7:13 PM
There is definitely a pattern here, so there is no use in tip-toeing around it. I think the real question here is:
Why does HA hate black people?
AUINSC on March 2, 2009 at 7:13 PM
I can’t take it anymore..please someone make the pain stop.
Alden Pyle on March 2, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Mistakes? Yeah!
Johan Klaus on March 2, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Yup,it’s true!
In the Liberal Ethics Book,page 300,paragraph 6,line 10,
it reads:
Any Liberal who reaches said office,he, or her, is immune
from any prosecution of ‘Accusations’of paying said taxes,
in any State at any time.
If Liberal, who is,’Accussed’of failure,forgetfulness,
‘slipped your mind’,'I was late’,'Your kidding,I mailed it’,or any other on the spot excuses,will fall under,
‘Oversight’!
If Liberal finds themselves in an ‘Oversight’ position
(refer to page 301,paragraph 2,line 6)it reads as follows:
In an Accusitory condition,you had absolutely no over-sight on your ability to remember if you,your wife,girlfriend,
or(partner)or(Other?)did,did-not,do your taxes for you,or
filled them out,or e-mailed or snale mailed!
————————————)Snark!)haha.
canopfor on March 2, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Why do you hate your parents?
MB4 on March 2, 2009 at 7:17 PM
It never ends……………
blr2449 on March 2, 2009 at 7:18 PM
You don’t know the half of it. See if this reminds you of a certain Illinois politician and his wife: in the mid ’90s, when Ron Kirk was mayor of Dallas, the Mavericks decided they needed a new arena. They’d be negotiating with the city to try to get the city to foot part of the bill. Ron Kirk — whose wife had, by coincidence, just been hired by the new owner of the team (salary: only $12,000; stock options: value of well over $400,000), became the principle cheerleader for a plan wherein the taxpayers would cover more than half of the cost.
Here’s one newspaper report:
http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/060798/LD0862.shtml
There’s plenty more out there.
RegularJoe on March 2, 2009 at 7:20 PM
That is a very brilliant point. why not pin the Libtards on the Flat Tax system and use this as a national mandate along with Energy independence.
Flat tax for all.
hawkman on March 2, 2009 at 7:20 PM
That is racist. White people do not pay their taxes either. Geitner, Daschle, ect., ect., ect……..
Johan Klaus on March 2, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Sorry..left this off: /sarc
I was feeling frisky today after watching the Dem economic miracle erase another 4% off the Dow.
AUINSC on March 2, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Glad you got that straight.
Johan Klaus on March 2, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Not the Ron Kirk I knew.
Ted Torgerson on March 2, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Jim Treacher on March 2, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Lie, lie big, lie often….
d1carter on March 2, 2009 at 7:39 PM
This is why they don’t care about tax increases…
stu.b.con on March 2, 2009 at 7:42 PM
That will do it. You may be climbing the walls by then end of the week.
MB4 on March 2, 2009 at 7:43 PM
At the rate that the DOW has been dropping since Obama’s inauguration the DOW should be at zero sometime around October of this year.
MB4 on March 2, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Rather than just pushing the “tax code is too complex” meme, how about the GOP gets in sync and hammers again and again:
“Democrats don’t mind raising taxes because they don’t pay their taxes”
The tax troubles of these picks by that guy who is not my president but lives in the whitehouse is a gift we can not afford to pass up.
What better message can there be, even the average dumb ass American voter can understand it.
Democrats don’t pay taxes but they want to raise YOUR taxes.
Lather, rinse, repeat…
crashland on March 2, 2009 at 7:52 PM
What do you have against white people…come on fess up ;>)
kanda on March 2, 2009 at 8:02 PM
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