Video: VA farmer facing fines for … hosting a birthday party

posted at 3:21 pm on August 22, 2012 by Ed Morrissey

What does every 10-year-old girl want for her birthday?  A big party and lots of room to have fun.  My own 10-year-old granddaughter had her campout/sleepover birthday party at our house three months ago.  Fortunately, we’re not farmers in Fauquier County, Virginia — where we would have had to apply for a “special events” permit to host the party for the Little Admiral or her friends.  Martha Boneta isn’t so fortunate, because when she invited her friend to stage a birthday party for her 10-year-old daughter at the farm, a few extra clowns showed up and issued her a citation for it — which could cost thousands of dollars in fines:

And people wonder why the Tea Party sprang into existence.  Tea Party activists showed up to protest Fauquier County’s actions two weeks ago when Boneta tried to appeal the citation for the party and for selling her produce at the farm to consumers — which Virginia state law allows.  The Gadsden flags and the pitchforks all came out, but to no avail; Boneta’s citations were upheld, leaving her to go to court:

Hashour said Boneta has roughly 30 to 45 days to make an appeal at Fauquier County Circuit Court.

Boneta’s attorney, Michelle Rosati, declined to comment Thursday as to what the next legal step will be. Boneta stayed out of the hearing.

“We feel very strongly that the law is on our side,” Rosati told Virginia Watchdog.

If not, then the words of Charles Dickens comes to mind, when a court told Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist that the law supposes that a husband has control of his wife

“If the law supposes that,” said Mr. Bumble,… “the law is a ass—a idiot. If that’s the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is that his eye may be opened by experience—by experience.”

Hopefully, the only asses in Virginia are the Fauquier County officials who cited Boneta, and — inevitably — the unnamed neighbor who sicced them on Boneta in the first place for having a birthday party for a 10-year-old girl and her friends.  Thankfully, I have much better neighbors than Boneta.

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Lynch was good today.

workingclass artist on May 22, 2013 at 9:25 PM

I believe the “overreach” meme is pathetic and not gaining traction. Let them explain why civil servants need to take the 5th.

rob verdi on May 22, 2013 at 9:27 PM

I am always suspicious of a Democrat wanting accountability with consequences rather than the standard fare of counseling and training. There were several D’s today acting fiery and only could surmise they must be up for reelection in ’14….

hillsoftx on May 22, 2013 at 9:30 PM

Future headline – Lynch Primaried Out of a Job

Steve Eggleston on May 22, 2013 at 9:30 PM

Poor Penny pritzker forgot to put down that other 80 million she made,seems the dems have a really tough time with math.But that little mistake will hardly rule her out as sec commerce.

rodguy911 on May 22, 2013 at 9:32 PM

His opening statement also served to undercut the notion that these hearings are all “GOP overreach.”

Outside the beltway, I think the IRS overreach resonates more than the administration hopes. You don’t have to be a conservative to understand that the IRS is guilty of abuse of the very significant powers they have.

In short, the GOP will have to work very hard if they are to get that overrreach charge to stick. They won’t get there by expecting the truth out of arrogant cows like Lerner.

Happy Nomad on May 22, 2013 at 9:34 PM

Sounds good except for the Special Prosecutor part. If there is a Special Prosecutor, I can reliably predict that his report won’t be made public until December of 2014 at the earliest.

You know it’s true.

Curtiss on May 22, 2013 at 9:35 PM

been watching this go on on and on, but what will come of it, absolutely nothing, the senate might flip, but don’t bet the farm on it. the D’s have election fixing down to a science. will the mediate go against them don’t expect it, just a lover’s quarrel, they will make up in the end. to borrow from Shakespeare, the sound and fury signifying nothing.

RonK on May 22, 2013 at 9:42 PM

I am always suspicious of a Democrat wanting accountability with consequences rather than the standard fare of counseling and training. There were several D’s today acting fiery and only could surmise they must be up for reelection in ’14….

hillsoftx on May 22, 2013 at 9:30 PM

True.

There are congressmen that are offended by the continual dismissive attitude toward congress by this imperious executive who seems to forget that congress is a co-equal branch. And some of those might be democrats.

We’ll see if it’s more than posturing but after today Lynch is probably on Il Duce’s enemies list.

workingclass artist on May 22, 2013 at 9:42 PM

Sounds good except for the Special Prosecutor part. If there is a Special Prosecutor, I can reliably predict that his report won’t be made public until December of 2014 at the earliest.

You know it’s true.

Curtiss on May 22, 2013 at 9:35 PM

You are more than likely correct, however, even the fact that there is a special prosecutor might make more Americans take notice. Hopefully, that is.

Amjean on May 22, 2013 at 9:45 PM

New Liberal Definition of Overreach: Realizing the majority of Americans already despise and distrust the government, especially the IRS, you GOP really shouldn’t be twisting the knife on this issue, because you know….fairness and all that, (and we’re totally screwed).

can_con on May 22, 2013 at 9:45 PM

I guess now Lynch will be considered to have ‘lost credibility’ to many on the Left, including our trolls, much the same way they say LSM journalists seeking the truth of the scandals have lost it.

Maybe this was a fluke, a happenstance. We’ll have to see over time if Lynch sticks to the impression he made today or if he ‘evolves’.

Liam on May 22, 2013 at 9:46 PM

however, even the fact that there is a special prosecutor might make more Americans take notice. Hopefully, that is.

Amjean on May 22, 2013 at 9:45 PM

The only way a more Americans would take notice, would be if the Special Prosecutor was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.

can_con on May 22, 2013 at 9:47 PM

Civil disobedience will soon be making a comeback…

d1carter on May 22, 2013 at 9:47 PM

Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts came down on the IRS’ witnesses admirably today, knocking them for abuses of freedom of speech and breaches of trust by comparing them to those routinely employed in Communist, repressive regimes.

Communist, repressive regimes always have a leader, like Stalin, Ceauşescu, Castro, Mao. Does he say out loud who that leader is here?

VorDaj on May 22, 2013 at 9:48 PM

So are McCain and Carl Levin on the case? They’re not? No threats, harsh words? Nope, that is for you fkhead wacky birds.

arnold ziffel on May 22, 2013 at 9:48 PM

Come on, this guy is obviously a massive racist. I mean, just look at his name. Typical crazy right-wing…. Massachusetts Democrat.

Gingotts on May 22, 2013 at 9:49 PM

We’ll see if it’s more than posturing but after today Lynch is probably on Il Duce’s enemies list.

workingclass artist on May 22, 2013 at 9:42 PM

Maybe he should invest in a few burner phones.

Curtiss on May 22, 2013 at 9:49 PM

By the way, this is the guy who lost the primary in Massachusetts against Markey. Really is a shame. Though perhaps if he won and were in the midst of a general election campaign, he wouldn’t have had guts enough to shred the IRS like this.

Gingotts on May 22, 2013 at 9:51 PM

So, Tea Party grannies get a rectal and Pinchin’ Penny’s Pritzker gets a pass on an $80million woopsie??? WTH???

ted c on May 22, 2013 at 9:55 PM

Meanwhile, gangs of “youths” are rioting in Stockholm, shouting “Allah akbar!”

John the Libertarian on May 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM

Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts came down on the IRS’ witnesses admirably today, knocking them for abuses of freedom of speech and breaches of trust by comparing them to those routinely employed in Communist, repressive regimes.

And rightly so, because the comparison is valid.

The threat of prosecution for tax fraud is the Kremlin’s weapon of choice against anyone who dares to challenge its hegemony.

When Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once the richest man in Russia, used his oil wealth to promote human rights and democracy, Putin detected a threat to his throne.

The oligarch was duly arrested and convicted of fraud. He now languishes in a Siberian jail where he is in the third year of an eight-year prison sentence.

- The Daily Mail, May 17, 2008

Update:

While still serving his sentence, Khodorkovsky and business partner Platon Lebedev were further charged and found guilty of embezzlement and money laundering in December 2010, extending his prison sentence to 2017. There is on-going debate about whether the trials and sentencing were politically motivated.

ITguy on May 22, 2013 at 10:06 PM

Oh, about that transparency thing..

The investigation of Rosen was first reported Monday, after The Washington Post obtained court documents containing details of the case.

A federal judge had ordered the documents unsealed in November 2011, but they were kept sealed for 18 months and not posted on the court’s online docket until last week, after The Post inquired about them.

Lamberth blamed a series of administrative errors and said a review of the “performance of the personnel involved is underway.”

Lucy Ricardo has been ordered to investigate Sgt. Schultz.

Speaking on lunatic women, has DWS made a sound in the last 2 weeks?

Bueller? Bueller?

BobMbx on May 22, 2013 at 10:14 PM

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pritzker_family,
Penny Pritzker appears to be a cousin of Margot Marshall Pritzker.

And there is a Margot Pritzker who serves with Michelle Obama on the Board of Directors of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

ITguy on May 22, 2013 at 10:17 PM

Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts came down on the IRS’ witnesses admirably today, knocking them for abuses of freedom of speech and breaches of trust by comparing them to those routinely employed in Communist, repressive regimes.

Yeah, well BO learned from the master.

Buy Danish on May 22, 2013 at 10:25 PM

Meanwhile, gangs of “youths” are rioting in Stockholm, shouting “Allah akbar!”

John the Libertarian on May 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM

Get it right sir, it’s Allahu Ahkbar. You no get no more warnins impedel.

arnold ziffel on May 22, 2013 at 10:27 PM

I am always suspicious of a Democrat wanting accountability with consequences rather than the standard fare of counseling and training. There were several D’s today acting fiery and only could surmise they must be up for reelection in ’14….

hillsoftx on May 22, 2013 at 9:30 PM

They’re all up for re-election as they are in the house. However, I am going to defend, as much as I don’t like them, a couple of them. Cummings and Lynch could’ve been as easy on them as they wanted and get re-elected. Cummings represents MD-7 which is a D+23 district. Stephen Lynch represents MA-8 which is a D+9 district. As safe as they are, they were a lot tougher than I though they would be and were far superior to the rest of the democrats.

topdawg on May 22, 2013 at 10:28 PM

John the Libertarian on May 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM

Let enough of these loser muzzie aholez in any country and they will turn it into Harlem on the Rio Grande without bricks and mortar.

SparkPlug on May 22, 2013 at 10:29 PM

arnold ziffel on May 22, 2013 at 10:27 PM

Are there any happy rag heads? They always seem to be irritated and miserable stoning each other and blowing themselves up bending over 5 times a day to bixch and moan but never seem to care about how they smell.

SparkPlug on May 22, 2013 at 10:36 PM

Don’t threaten.

F*CKING. DO. IT.

NOW.

Midas on May 22, 2013 at 11:43 PM

arnold ziffel on May 22, 2013 at 10:27 PM

SparkPlug on May 22, 2013 at 10:36 PM

Their deep-seated resentment stems, in part, from pointing to an unfortunate woman and her feet barely peeking out of a portable tent and claiming it’s their “hot girlfriend over there” at which point their friends laugh, scoff and call BS even if the claim were true… because seeing is believing.

viking01 on May 22, 2013 at 11:56 PM

So I see Penny is doing Chicago proud.

Just an $80 million dollar oversight – no biggie.

$#%@ this administration!

Hill60 on May 22, 2013 at 11:57 PM

Michael Iannoti is an IRS agent in New Haven CT. Issa should have him testify about why he went after Anne Hendershott.

This should make you mad.

Jasper61 on May 23, 2013 at 12:27 AM

Here’s one of the reasons why the IG George was squirming later in the afternoon…

Update per Issa: “E-mails between @GOPoversight and IG show IG delayed reporting findings of #IRS investigation to Congress http://t.co/xMffZUSsRC“

workingclass artist on May 23, 2013 at 8:58 AM

Lynch is my rep and he is a good guy. He is often at odds with “mainstream” liberals in MA and likely why he lost the primary to total Elizabeth Warrenesque Moonbat Libtard, Ed Markey.

roy_batty on May 23, 2013 at 12:06 PM

roy_batty on May 23, 2013 at 12:06 PM

Lynch is basically useless. He’s also my rep and I always either vote against him, or if a RINO is running, leave the race blank. This was a nice show, and I am sure that in his heart of hearts Lynch would prefer not to be part of the “go along to get along” crowd of Boston/Northeast Irish Americans who have sold their souls to the diseased Democratic party. However, he is always a good soldier and his motto (like his fellow Irish-American sellout brethren) is always: “Democrats uber alles”. I’ve lived in Boston all my life and his breed is not reliable.

wraithby on May 23, 2013 at 12:57 PM