Bill targets Hill staffers with unpaid taxes
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/20/art.chaffetz.cnn.jpg caption=" Rep. Chaffetz to introduce legislation Thursday cracking down on Hill staffers with unpaid taxes "]
Washington (CNN) – A Utah congressman wants delinquent Capitol Hill staffers to settle up.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is set to introduce a bill Thursday that targets Congressional employees with unpaid taxes.
"It's pretty hard to find anyone who would disagree with this legislation," Chaffetz told CNN. When asked if his own staffers are current in paying their taxes, he indicated he had talked them before putting the bill together. "I hope they are all in compliance."
Rep. Chaffetz also said he wants to "model this after the IRS," which the Utah Republican says has the highest compliance rate in the federal government for employees paying taxes.
Chaffetz told CNN he got the idea for the legislation after he heard President Obama's remarks at the January 20 singing of a directive that blocks tax-delinquent companies from obtaining government contracts. At the time, Obama said "it is simply wrong for companies to take taxpayer dollars and not be taxpayers themselves."
According to Chaffetz, there are currently hundreds of Hill staffers with unpaid taxes. For the 2008 tax year alone, the freshman congressman estimates a total of $8 million in unpaid taxes owed by congressional employees.
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Aah, the anti tax republican has an answer to the jobs crisis.
Democrats will naturally disagree with this. First, because the idea comes from a Reublican. Second, because Charlie Rangel didnt pay his taxes, and that was perfectly OK.
You are wrong Rep Chaffetz.
I bet that Turbo Tax Tim Geitner, Charlie Rangel, Chris Dodd, etc., etc, etc.,-–(fill in the name of your favorite Dem here)--will definitely have a problem with it.
You see, to them.......EVERYONE ELSE should pay taxes--and they get to determine what taxes that they want EVERYONE ELSE to pay.......
But, they don't feel that THEY should have to pay taxes.
the freshman congressman estimates a total of $8 million in unpaid taxes owed by congressional employees
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I like it. Why should gov't employees be exempt from consequences? Clean house! You owe taxes? Pay them. Fair enough.
It's about time!
Not only is this bill reasonable it's alos a shame this hasn't been the standard to begin with.
Just because they have been elected into the Congress or Senate does not excuse there obligation to pay taxes. 8 Million? How about that America? Should they be excused from paying, or Obama forbid, from paying penalties?
Is this the new witch hunt by a Republican?
Those folks should pay or go. Unless they have made payment arrangements with IRS, give them 90 days to pay up or sign a payment arrangement. The same goes for elected members of Congress, who are mysteriously unaffected by this bill.
Look at the reasoning though. This Conservative is saying, "If Obama punishes companies, then I'll punish people." To Republicans, this is a nation of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations.
congress makes the point on a daily basis that they are ALL corrupt it's time to get rid of all of them and start over perhaps the republicans and some democrats will see the light and remove themselves before this country dissolves itself from sheer corruption caused by congress!! we don't need them we can do bad all by ourselves at least we know what we need unlike congress who uses "the American people" phrase to carry out their agendas. what a sad commentary
We the people are the only ones paying taxes congress members feel that they above the law and don't have to pay taxes where is the IRS that allows congress members to get away with not paying taxes for years on end many of them are delinquent on their taxes and they make big money why don't they pay up or be treated like Joe blow citizen is treated.
Why single out Congressional staffers? Shouldn't Mr. Chaffetz also include in this bill members of Congress and candidates for Congress, and not just for income taxes, but for property taxes and payroll taxes, etc.?
well there it folks the whole ploy plays out now
the dems want to raise taxes so they can keep more by not paying them
the republicans want to cut them in hopes they get low enough that they will catch up and they wont have to pay them
HANG EM ALL
WE THE PEOPLE who pay our taxes which provides the salaries for these political criminals would be in prison if we didn't pay our taxes. What prison cell is rangel and tiny timmie tax cheat in?
Good for him but watch all the democrats vote it down- you know their reputation for paying taxes, or not paying taxes until caught.
When is Senator Ensign going to get his come-uppence?
Anyone ever notice how cnn (communist news network) puts obama articles in permalink so all the negative remarks about him are sealed but they get article on a republican and they leave it open for ever to read the comments?
he better clear this with tax cheat Geitner...(a typical obama appointee)
What key do you suppose you sing a directive in?
"Chaffetz told CNN he got the idea for the legislation after he heard President Obama's remarks at the January 20 singing of a directive . . . '
SWEET!!!! Let this bill come up for a vote. PLEASE.
Just staffers or the congress-critters themselves???
I would not do it because in most cases it means having to break the law by getting into the person's personal documents to verify the information, thus making the snitch no better person than the tax cheater. Thanks Mr. Cafferty, have a good week. Ms. Hessels, VA.
Why limit it to just staffers? Considering all the others with recent tax trouble, this law should be extended to members of Congress and the Administration.
This sounds like a GOOD bipartisan move... let's see how far it gets!!
Really!? A special bill is needed for this? Why not just use the existing laws to make them pay. Sounds like just another dumb GOP idiots idea of how waste time while appearing to be doing something.