Simon's handling of tax returns weakens political, business images

Mercury News ^ | 7/24/02 | Mark Gladstone

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Simon has been selling himself to voters as an astute businessman and investor, but the restricted release of his personal income taxes this week has undermined that image and raised questions about his political savvy.

[NormsRevenge]

The Merc's Slam ..urrr. Slant on Simon .. Why it doesn't pay to be wealthy these days.
DUMP DAVI$ & the Den of Socialists

GO SIMON

[NormsRevenge]

Manure :-)

[Vladiator]

Simon and his campaign have a tin ear. You can't blame the media for that.

Again - - I WANT to like Simon. But he knows he has an uphill climb in California. Releasing the tax records are good. But giving people 3 hours to look at them, then limiting their access to reporters and not allowing accountants to look at them, and even forcing them to use Simon Campaign notepads?

Come on.

At this point, though, he has no choice but to say "I've released my tax returns to the media as everyone else has. They looked at them. I have nothing to hide."

We'll see what happens.

[Gophack]

Since 1990, he has paid more than $11 million in taxes on some $36 million in income.

So, Simon is paying about 31% of his income to the governor.

Davis paid about $50,000 on $200,000 income. That's 25%.

The question is, is DAVIS paying his fair share??????

[ElkGroveDan]

I'd like to see a poll question something like this;

Regardless of how much they earned, do you feel that a person who pays a million dollars a year in taxes is probably "paying their fair share"?

[NormsRevenge]

Is Davi$' wife a lobbyist or raising money for the ol' hubby? She has claimed some income, I think as well.

[jumpstartme]

The issue heated up again last week when it was revealed that the IRS was looking at whether the accounting firm KPMG, which worked for Simon and other investors, used offshore tax shelters that may skirt the law.

Slam is right. No mention of the facts that the IRS released these records
(a) illegally and (b) with suspicious timing that smells political.

Hmmm, wonder why? Slanted and selective reporting it seems...

[Gophack]

She works for one of Davis' major donors, I can't remember which one now. She makes (I think) $37,000 annually.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Manure and Horse Puckey is what the media is giving us!

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[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

even forcing them to use Simon Campaign notepads?

You are as bad as the media!

That was a courtesy!