Posted on 07/23/2008 3:47:31 PM PDT by WilliamReading
Congressman Robert Wexler is answering questions after a news report alleges that he doesn't reside in his home district of Delray Beach.
It is required that he keep a residence in the district he represents, but, according to the report, his primary residence is in Maryland, not Delray Beach.
The Delray Beach condo he has claimed as his primary residence is actually owned by his in-laws, in a 55-and-over senior community.
When questioned by a Fox News reporter Wexler insists he has done nothing wrong and is following the established guidelines for a residence in his district.
Statement by Congressman Robert Wexler:
I moved to Florida when I was ten years old. I attended Florida public schools. I was married in Florida, and my children were born in Florida. My wife and I previously owned three homes in Florida. In 1996, I was elected to represent my South Florida constituents in Washington. During my first year in Congress, my family lived in our Florida home, and I attempted to commute between Washington and Florida. It quickly became apparent me that I would miss out on the bulk on my children’s lives if I were to work full time in Washington while they lived in Florida. My wife and I then made the decision to purchase property in Maryland where we could attend an Orthodox Synagogue and my children could attend Jewish Day School while I worked at the Capitol. We sold our Florida home, and I established my residency at my in-laws home in Delray Beach.
Under Florida law, residency is determined based on a few critical factors. Under all of the relevant factors my place of legal residence is quite clearly and legitimately Florida, including my clear and documented intention to be a Florida resident, my Florida drivers license, my registration to vote in Florida, and the Florida tags on my automobiles. In addition, I have two offices in Florida where I work -- another determining factor according to Florida law -- and I have been a member of the Florida Bar in good standing since 1985.
There is no requirement that people have to own property to serve in Congress – nor should there be.
From the very beginning, I have been open with my constituents about my decision to move my family to the Washington area where I spend the majority of my time. I have discussed this publicly for years and have even written about it my own book, which I am actively encouraging my constituents to read!
This is simply nothing more than a baseless political attack by my Republican opponent that is being heavily promoted by Bill O’Reilly of Fox News Channel because he is angry with me for sending an email to my supporters criticizing Fox News Channel and Bill O’Reilly for their offensive and racially tinged coverage of Barack and Michelle Obama. After I criticized O’Reilly he attacked me on his television show and now has retaliated by sending cameras to my Maryland and Florida homes to pretend he is “breaking news” about something I have openly discussed for years.
Many members of Congress own property in the Washington area, many raise their children in the Washington area, and many like myself cannot afford to own two homes.
I do not believe that my constituents question my commitment or ability to represent them in Florida. I am deeply and passionately involved in every level of local government and local campaigns, and I have worked relentlessly on issues ranging from delivering a voter verified paper trail, working for a real prescription drug benefit, ensuring the security of the state of Israel, and countess other issues.
I spend as much time as I can in my district and am continually speaking to groups and hosting town hall meetings. Many times constituents have complained to me that they did not like a position or vote I have taken, but I can honestly say that in my over twelve years in Congress the one criticism that I have never heard is that I am not involved enough with our local community.
By his response, I am guessing that Wexler dodge the high state income taxes of Maryland by pretending to be a legal resident of Florida.
He has no residence in Florida, and he admits that he hasn’t been sleeping on his mother-in-law’s couch for the last few years. He has a wife and two teenagers, so they are forbidden to live in a seniors only development.
Tax fraud charges, anyone?
Does he or his immediate family have any of that in Maryland at his *primary* address?
Has he run for re-election in Florida after moving his *primary* residency to Maryland?
If the answer is Yes to either of them he isn't a valid representative of Florida imo.
Get him out and make him run for election in Maryland.
LOL!
“It’s Bill O’Reilly’s fault! He forced me to live in Maryland and lie about my residency in Florida!”
Oh good call
I didn’t think Congresscritters paid taxes on their income.
I wonder if he votes in Maryland too?
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0222/SEC17.HTM&Title=-%3E2000-%3ECh0222-%3ESection%2017
222.17 Manifesting and evidencing domicile in Florida.--
(1) Any person who shall have established a domicile in this state may manifest and evidence the same by filing in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which the said person shall reside, a sworn statement showing that he or she resides in and maintains a place of abode in that county which he or she recognizes and intends to maintain as his or her permanent home.
(2) Any person who shall have established a domicile in the State of Florida, but who shall maintain another place or places of abode in some other state or states, may manifest and evidence his or her domicile in this state by filing in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which he or she resides, a sworn statement that his or her place of abode in Florida constitutes his or her predominant and principal home, and that he or she intends to continue it permanently as such.
(3) Such sworn statement shall contain, in addition to the foregoing, a declaration that the person making the same is, at the time of making such statement, a bona fide resident of the state, and shall set forth therein his or her place of residence within the state, the city, county and state wherein he or she formerly resided, and the place or places, if any, where he or she maintains another or other place or places of abode.
(4) Any person who shall have been or who shall be domiciled in a state other than the State of Florida, and who has or who may have a place of abode within the State of Florida, or who has or may do or perform other acts within the State of Florida, which independently of the actual intention of such person respecting his or her domicile might be taken to indicate that such person is or may intend to be or become domiciled in the State of Florida, and if such person desires to maintain or continue his or her domicile in such state other than the State of Florida, the person may manifest and evidence his or her permanent domicile and intention to permanently maintain and continue his or her domicile in such state other than the State of Florida, by filing in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in any county in the State of Florida in which the person may have a place of abode or in which the person may have done or performed such acts which independently may indicate that he or she is or may intend to be or become domiciled in the State of Florida, a sworn statement that the person's domicile is in such state other than the State of Florida, as the case may be, naming such state where he or she is domiciled and stating that he or she intends to permanently continue and maintain his or her domicile in such other state so named in said sworn statement. Such sworn statement shall also contain a declaration that the person making the same is at the time of the making of such statement a bona fide resident of such state other than the State of Florida, and shall set forth therein his or her place of abode within the State of Florida, if any. Such sworn statement may contain such other and further facts with reference to any acts done or performed by such person which such person desires or intends not to be construed as evidencing any intention to establish his or her domicile within the State of Florida.
(5) The sworn statement permitted by this section shall be signed under oath before an official authorized to take affidavits. Upon the filing of such declaration with the clerk of the circuit court, it shall be the duty of the clerk in whose office such declaration is filed to record the same in a book to be provided for that purpose. For the performance of the duties herein prescribed, the clerk of the circuit court shall collect a service charge for each declaration as provided in s. 28.24.
(6) It shall be the duty of the Department of Legal Affairs to prescribe a form for the declaration herein provided for, and to furnish the same to the several clerks of the circuit courts of the state.
(7) Nothing herein shall be construed to repeal or abrogate other existing methods of proving and evidencing domicile except as herein specifically provided.
History.--ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ch. 20412, 1941; s. 1, ch. 26896, 1951; ss. 11, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 15, ch. 70-134; s. 1204, ch. 95-147.
Where does he file his taxes?
Where is he registered to vote?
My guess though, MSM ignores this and it dies on the vine, after all, he is a Democrat and the rules are not applied equally.
He probably votes in Florida. By pretending to be a Florida resident, he can save at least $10,000+ a year in Maryland taxes and insurance.
People have served jail time for stealing $100. Time for the Maryland Attorney General to look into this.
No, because it is constitutionally required for a member of congress to be a resident of the state which he or she represents. Tom Daschle almost got into trouble by declaring his mansion in Washington, DC as his primary residence for tax purposes.
Yeah, that’s what I think is really going on. He is a Democrat after all.
I agree... This kind of stuff needs to stop and the violators prosecuted.
Change you can believe in?
I know in my state of Kansas, a lot of Kansas residence tag their vehicles in other states, using relative’s addresses, in order to evade paying the high annual personal property tax associated with tagging in this state.
What a lying POS. This is what we can expect from all our congress critters. Pure garbage.
TERM LIMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 terms in the Senate (12 years) then must sit out a term before eligible return.
6 terms in the House (12 years) then must sit out 2 terms (4 years) before eligible to return.
I guarantee a clown like Wexler would disappear if he had to spend 4 years out of the congressional limelight!
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