Posted on 09/04/2005 4:18:28 AM PDT by Archidamus
He is paying the back tax after rules change; now Hill Country property brings scrutiny
WASHINGTON - Presidential adviser Karl Rove may live in Washington. But in his heart — and for voting purposes — he remains a Texan. Which means he is not legally entitled to the homestead deduction and property tax cap he's been getting on his Washington home for the past 3 1/2 years.
Last week, the District of Columbia tax collector was alerted to the problem. And Rove agreed to reimburse the District for an estimated $3,400 in back taxes, city officials said. But now some Lone Star officials also are wondering about the place Rove calls home.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
By who?
I think it might be time for the DC tax office to check through all the politicians homes.
Well, it is DC. They'll go through all the Repubs and say they didn't have time to get to the D-rats.
The Washington Post, of course.
>>But as far as the locals know, the couple have never actually lived in either of two tiny rental cottages Rove claims as his residence on Texas voter-registration rolls. The largest is 814 square feet and valued by the county at about $25,000.<<
Doesn't appear too honest to me. What's your reading of the man?
No less honest than George the Elder claiming a hotel room for his address in Texas during his presidency. He spent more time in Maine than Texas.
This is a long-standing tradition among DC officials.
Still, under state law, the definition of a Texan is really pretty loose, Reyes said, even for voting purposes.
What are you saying?
Sorry, but Daschle got zapped for this last year.
Laws are made as boundries. Going to the edge of the boundry is NOT breaking the law, nor is it in any way shady or unscrupulous. I don't know why people think it is...
The only way this would be illegal is if Rove voted in both places.
It brings up the issue of a lot of the pols. Another targeted has been Santorum.
Does it say how much he deducted for the donation of used underwear? Just curious.
I'd check out the corks popping at DU except I have already showered for the day, the nut cases must be gleeful.
At that time,Massachusetts had a state death tax and Florida didn't.
I'll wager that there was a little more than $3400 at stake in that little stunt.
Yes, at least he owns a house or two in Texas. I don't see anything wrong with this. Like you say, a rental house on some property is much more substantial than a hotel room.
In times past, this hit piece would go unanswered, but I bet before the day is out, a conservative blogger will have a long list of Democrats who have been nailed for this as well.
I'm saying if Rove claims as his former residence, an 814 square feet cottage valued at $25,000, the man is a liar.
I'm also saying that if you, I or any other common folks tried this stunt, the IRS, the local DA, the local tax assessor and anybody else who could grab a bite of our assets would hang us out to dry after they fined us until our eyes turned green.
Just because someone works in the White House doesn't mean that they can avoid obeying the law!
You are wrong. Especially if the law is vague. At the very most he might have taken advantage of an opportunity afforded him by a vague Texas law.
How is he a liar? Are you going to apply this same logic to every single politician, advisor, staff member, secretary, intern, or KFC employee in Washington?
Some people live in card board boxes in Chicago and they claim those as their residence.
Do you know exactly what the law is? If you don't, then STFU!
This is a POS article intending to smear Rove and you know it!
Tax cheats have no party
The answer is simple - ROVE is now a registered "citizen" of Wash DC.
He is NOT a Texan any more - it was HIS choice.
Now let's see if he claims Texas properties with Homestead Exemption without have to meet the residency requirements of a yankee alien immigrant into Texas (minimum of one year I think)
The DC Tax Collector better knock on Tom Dashcle's door as the former SD Senator also took a homestead exemption while suppossedly a resident of the state he represented in Congress.
Yes, the article is meant to smear Rove, but he was the one who opened the doors for the author.
Does sirchtruth = search for the truth?
Are you 100% honest with yourself?
If you want to make people angry, lie to them. If you want to make them absolutely livid, then tell 'em the truth.
"All truth goes through three stages.
First it is ridiculed.
Then it is violently opposed.
Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
(Schopenhauer)
“The masses live by, and are ruled by, subconscious and emotional thought process. The crowd has never thirsted for the truth. It turns aside from evidence that is not to its taste, preferring to glorify and to follow error, if the way of error appears attractive enough, and seduces them.
They do report on all the pols every year or so...the last time they did this...a bunch of dems were named as tax evaders.
Quoting from some German philosopher that meddled in obscure Asian religions, eventhough an atheist, and was FOS, tells me much about your thinking.
"I'm saying if Rove claims as his former residence, an 814 square feet cottage valued at $25,000, the man is a liar."
It is his current residence. For voting purposes, anyway.
"I'm saying if Rove claims as his former residence, an 814 square feet cottage valued at $25,000, the man is a liar."
Rove sold his longtime home in Austin in 2003.
He and his wife, Darby, have owned property there, on the Guadalupe River, since at least 1997, according to county property records.
But as far as the locals know, the couple have never actually lived in either of two tiny rental cottages Rove claims as his residence on Texas voter-registration rolls. The largest is 814 square feet and valued by the county at about $25,000.
"I'm also saying that if you, I or any other common folks tried this stunt, the IRS, the local DA, the local tax assessor and anybody else who could grab a bite of our assets would hang us out to dry after they fined us until our eyes turned green."
I doubt it. Why do you think the IRS would care?
That anyone would have to be told that, is very worrisome.
...very worrisome indeed.
Tax evasion from the state is the kind of thing that gets them to scan your records hoping they'll find some thing more.
I was implying his voluntary tax status as a resident of Washington DC negates his residency in Texas - He registered as a PERMANENT citizen of DC with his "homestead exemption".
He can afford to pay the penalties in taxes adn fines just like us peones
Rove has agreed to pay the additional taxes.
Folks,
The reality here is lots of people want to be from Texas because of 0 state income tax. Contrast that with DC's taxes which I think are double digit %.
Keeping a residency in Texas makes one a Texan, but Rove should spend a few nights at those tiny condos to stay clean.
State residency is about income tax, not property tax.
Actually - what the hell are we arguing about on a few hundred $$ anyway.
Rove should have simply given his 'mea culpas' paid the taxes, interest and penalties - agreed that he insulted Texas and all Texans when he embraced DC as his PERMANENT home.
Of course, since he publicly stated he LIED to the DC tax authorities since he was NOT actually adopting DC as his permanent "home of record" he needs to apologize to all the DCers and to the rest of America for his insult to them.
I don't care if he calls himself a republican a democrat or a idiot - he still broke the law. People in high power are to be held in much stricter scrutiny on criminal behavior. He should - by honor - resign ---- but there is NO HONOR and NO INTEGRITY in government anymore.
Yes I know the demcrats are worse and would never think about even confessing to the crime of tax evasion - let alone actually resign for cause.
Maybe the Marine Corps taught me way too well what the true meaning of the words: INTEGRITY - HONOR - COURAGE - PATRIOTISM - FAITH. I lived by them and expect anyone who CLAIMS leadership above me had best at least do the same.
Semper Fidelis
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC .....
A last PS ....
It has been too many years now, but I learned when I was young of an American Indian tribe that only had ONE mortal sin - punishable by death - LYING!
Why? becasue once a person has lied - or caught lying - there is NO trust left and that person has NO use.
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