Daschle Paid Back Taxes After Vetting

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
I dont think this should affect his selection at all. I think it should serve as a stark reminder of just how over complicated our tax code is, and how much resources are wasted each year trying to navigate the millions of pages of tax code. Most of these guys in Washington, especially former lawmakers who have moved to the private sector, are making all kinds of money from tons of different sources. Daschle made over 2 million last year from consulting, policy speaches, etc, etc. Tax filings for people like that must be insane, and are probably never perfect, and I'm sure he probably had a tax accountant do them as well. This isnt income he failed to pay taxes on, it was a gift from a business associate in the form of a car and driver. He was driven around Washington for years, and probably didnt think about the tax implications of doing that in the private sector, and I'll bet most of you would have easily made the same mistake.

Are you joking?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
I dont think this should affect his selection at all. I think it should serve as a stark reminder of just how over complicated our tax code is, and how much resources are wasted each year trying to navigate the millions of pages of tax code. Most of these guys in Washington, especially former lawmakers who have moved to the private sector, are making all kinds of money from tons of different sources. Daschle made over 2 million last year from consulting, policy speaches, etc, etc. Tax filings for people like that must be insane, and are probably never perfect, and I'm sure he probably had a tax accountant do them as well. This isnt income he failed to pay taxes on, it was a gift from a business associate in the form of a car and driver. He was driven around Washington for years, and probably didnt think about the tax implications of doing that in the private sector, and I'll bet most of you would have easily made the same mistake.

You can't be serious. Are you?

I'm no rich guy but I have over 20 sources of income and yet I manage to pay my taxes. No I would not have made the same mistake - if a benfit or monies in anyway shape or form came to me I know that I should document it and file taxes on it.

Are you saying that a joe like me is smarter than this guy?

 

[sactoking]

Geithner: He SHOULD have known better, but the tax issues he faced were somewhat complex. How many of us knew that a US Citizen working for an international employer was considered self-employed? Or the caveat to the child credit that overnight camp does not count as residency? His biggest issue IMO is that he weaseled out of the prior years' liability due to statute issues and only came clean when Obama told him to. His issue should not disqualify him.

Daschle: He's a dirtbag. First off, he blatantly lied about charitable donations. I think pretty much everyone knows that if you don't actually give something of value, you can't claim you did, and that you can't say what you gave was worth substantially more than it actually was. That's pretty low. Then he didn't claim a benny as income. That's a bit more forgivable, though I think most people know that income does not just mean 'cash'. However, his excuse is that he "thought it was a gift from a good friend". Ok, so why didn't he pay gift tax on it?!? Because he's a hypocrite and a tax cheat, that's why. His 'apology' is hollow and he should be out.

Killefer: She's better than Daschle, but only marginally so. What she did was just as bad. I mean seriously, who doesn't know that if you employ someone you have to pay employment tax? What saves her is that she at least can step away gracefully.

 

[sciwizam]

Originally posted by: sactoking
Geithner: He SHOULD have known better, but the tax issues he faced were somewhat complex. How many of us knew that a US Citizen working for an international employer was considered self-employed? Or the caveat to the child credit that overnight camp does not count as residency? His biggest issue IMO is that he weaseled out of the prior years' liability due to statute issues and only came clean when Obama told him to. His issue should not disqualify him.

Daschle: He's a dirtbag. First off, he blatantly lied about charitable donations. I think pretty much everyone knows that if you don't actually give something of value, you can't claim you did, and that you can't say what you gave was worth substantially more than it actually was. That's pretty low. Then he didn't claim a benny as income. That's a bit more forgivable, though I think most people know that income does not just mean 'cash'. However, his excuse is that he "thought it was a gift from a good friend". Ok, so why didn't he pay gift tax on it?!? Because he's a hypocrite and a tax cheat, that's why. His 'apology' is hollow and he should be out.

Killefer: She's better than Daschle, but only marginally so. What she did was just as bad. I mean seriously, who doesn't know that if you employ someone you have to pay employment tax? What saves her is that she at least can step away gracefully.

What also saves Killefer is that she didn't wait till the vetting process to address her tax trouble.

When Killefer's selection was announced by Obama on Jan. 7, The Associated Press disclosed that in 2005 the District of Columbia government had filed a $946.69 tax lien on her home for failure to pay unemployment compensation tax on household help. Since then, administration officials have refused to answer questions about the tax error, which she resolved five months after the lien was filed.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: sactoking
* * *
Daschle: He's a dirtbag. First off, he blatantly lied about charitable donations. I think pretty much everyone knows that if you don't actually give something of value, you can't claim you did, and that you can't say what you gave was worth substantially more than it actually was. That's pretty low. Then he didn't claim a benny as income. That's a bit more forgivable, though I think most people know that income does not just mean 'cash'. However, his excuse is that he "thought it was a gift from a good friend". Ok, so why didn't he pay gift tax on it?!? Because he's a hypocrite and a tax cheat, that's why. His 'apology' is hollow and he should be out.
* * *

Your analysis is pretty superficial and flat out wrong. Gift tax is payable by the donor, not the donee and there is a huge unified credit in addition to annual exemptions that pretty much exclude gift tax in all but the most extreme circumstances. Given the numbers in Daschle's case it is a very reasonable assumption that no gift tax would be due from anyone if the gift tax was the applicable law.

From what I understand the charitable deductions were only a couple of grand and were disallowed because the recipient organizations did not take the proper steps to make themselves a deductible charity. Daschle is paying the price for their mistake.

Daschle's real problem is he made a boatload of money since he left Congress ($5M) because of his Washington connections, that has made the current members of Congress uneasy and/or jealous.

The travails these Cabinet appointees are going through points out a very real problem-good people will not volunteer for government service because they don't want every tax decision, etc. they made in the past gone over with a fine tooth comb. I know I personally would never subject myself to this sort of proctology.

 

[Genx87]

Well what I dont get is how these people get to the point of the city, county, or state putting a lien on their homes? That would require court action and a notice sent out. Al the douchebag Franken went through this as well. The state of NY got a judgement against him for failing to pay taxes. Of course he will be the next Democrat senator from MN.

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: Thump553
Your analysis is pretty superficial and flat out wrong. Gift tax is payable by the donor, not the donee and there is a huge unified credit in addition to annual exemptions that pretty much exclude gift tax in all but the most extreme circumstances. Given the numbers in Daschle's case it is a very reasonable assumption that no gift tax would be due from anyone if the gift tax was the applicable law.

From what I understand the charitable deductions were only a couple of grand and were disallowed because the recipient organizations did not take the proper steps to make themselves a deductible charity. Daschle is paying the price for their mistake.

Daschle's real problem is he made a boatload of money since he left Congress ($5M) because of his Washington connections, that has made the current members of Congress uneasy and/or jealous.

The travails these Cabinet appointees are going through points out a very real problem-good people will not volunteer for government service because they don't want every tax decision, etc. they made in the past gone over with a fine tooth comb. I know I personally would never subject myself to this sort of proctology.

Well, I got the liable entity for a taxable gift wrong. Your analysis is also wrong in that you assume no gift tax would be due. The exemption is $12,000. Show me a freaking limo WITH DRIVER that you can get for <$12,000.

It doesn't change the fact that the evidence points to Daschle intentionally trying to cheat the system and being lying, hypocritical scum to boot.

 

[Red Dawn]

Well Daschle has now asked Obama to withdraw his name:thumbsup:

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Good riddance!

 

[Red Dawn]

It's pretty bad when even the Liberal NY Times calls for him to withdraw.

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Well Obama has now asked Daschle to ask Obama to withdraw his name:thumbsup:

Fixed.

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: sactoking

Originally posted by: Thump553
Your analysis is pretty superficial and flat out wrong. Gift tax is payable by the donor, not the donee and there is a huge unified credit in addition to annual exemptions that pretty much exclude gift tax in all but the most extreme circumstances. Given the numbers in Daschle's case it is a very reasonable assumption that no gift tax would be due from anyone if the gift tax was the applicable law.

From what I understand the charitable deductions were only a couple of grand and were disallowed because the recipient organizations did not take the proper steps to make themselves a deductible charity. Daschle is paying the price for their mistake.

Daschle's real problem is he made a boatload of money since he left Congress ($5M) because of his Washington connections, that has made the current members of Congress uneasy and/or jealous.

The travails these Cabinet appointees are going through points out a very real problem-good people will not volunteer for government service because they don't want every tax decision, etc. they made in the past gone over with a fine tooth comb. I know I personally would never subject myself to this sort of proctology.

Well, I got the liable entity for a taxable gift wrong. Your analysis is also wrong in that you assume no gift tax would be due. The exemption is $12,000. Show me a freaking limo WITH DRIVER that you can get for <$12,000.

It doesn't change the fact that the evidence points to Daschle intentionally trying to cheat the system and being lying, hypocritical scum to boot.

It was only a $400,000 a year + perks gig anyway...

 

[Pocatello]

Originally posted by: Ozoned

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Well Obama has now asked Daschle to ask Obama to withdraw his name:thumbsup:

Fixed.

Obama is making a good decision.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Ozoned

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Well Obama has now asked Daschle to ask Obama to withdraw his name:thumbsup:

Fixed.

Obama is making a good decision.

i agree he is. trying to push him threw would be a bad idea.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Sounds like the process worked, and the tax-dodger will be rejected.

 

[Red Dawn]

Lol, it seems nobody on either side really liked this guy.

 

[Moonbeam]

Bubye, Prick.

 

[Nocturnal]

It's truly amazing how many people try to skip out on taxes, even high officials who vote for more and more tax increases.

Unbelievable.

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Contrary to the hopes of the anti healthcare reform crowd, he'll get confirmed.

Yep.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: sactoking

Originally posted by: Thump553
Your analysis is pretty superficial and flat out wrong. Gift tax is payable by the donor, not the donee and there is a huge unified credit in addition to annual exemptions that pretty much exclude gift tax in all but the most extreme circumstances. Given the numbers in Daschle's case it is a very reasonable assumption that no gift tax would be due from anyone if the gift tax was the applicable law.

From what I understand the charitable deductions were only a couple of grand and were disallowed because the recipient organizations did not take the proper steps to make themselves a deductible charity. Daschle is paying the price for their mistake.

Daschle's real problem is he made a boatload of money since he left Congress ($5M) because of his Washington connections, that has made the current members of Congress uneasy and/or jealous.

The travails these Cabinet appointees are going through points out a very real problem-good people will not volunteer for government service because they don't want every tax decision, etc. they made in the past gone over with a fine tooth comb. I know I personally would never subject myself to this sort of proctology.

Well, I got the liable entity for a taxable gift wrong. Your analysis is also wrong in that you assume no gift tax would be due. The exemption is $12,000. Show me a freaking limo WITH DRIVER that you can get for <$12,000.

It doesn't change the fact that the evidence points to Daschle intentionally trying to cheat the system and being lying, hypocritical scum to boot.

You still fail at reading comprehension and a lack of understanding of even the basics of the tax code. You blissfully skip over the the entire concept of the unified credit (which presently exempts from tax a gift up to $2,000,000-after application of the annual $12,000 exemption). I hope you never go near an estate or gift tax return for you are going to drastically overpay the tax if you do.

The only real winners today are the big health insurers. Knocking out Daschle goes a long way towards locking in our failing "private" health care system for many years to come. The Washington game was played again today by masters-and this tax issue was really only a pretext, the goal was to eliminate Daschle with his knowledge of health care issues and how the Senate operates.

 

[Atreus21]

The goal was to eliminate Daschle with his knowledge of health care issues and how the Senate operates.

Or perhaps just to protect Obama from being embarrassed from appointing another man who failed to pay his taxes.