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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2009 > March > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSenator introduces ethics bill on tax evasion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A bill introduced this week would let state senators more quickly investigate tax scofflaws who serve in the state Legislature.
Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) introduced Senate Resolution 452, which would allow the state’s Commissioner of Revenue to file a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee on slacker legislators.
Such a move would speed up the flow of information on legislators who don’t pay the piper and could result more quickly in a public reprimand or a recommendation for removal from office, Johnson said.
The move comes after a recent Georgia Department of Revenue report revealing that 19 Legislators have not filed their returns. The report did not name the legislators.
Johnson said three are in the Senate.
Right now the Senate can censure a member for not paying taxes only after a final adjudication is made, and that could take five or six years, Johnson said.
“They’re gaming the system,” Johnson said of legislators who don’t file their tax returns. They have plenty of time of not paying taxes before the word gets out, he said.
Johnson’s bill would change the clubby atmosphere of the Senate, opening it up to more scrutiny.
“This would allow him [the Commissioner of Revenue] to say senator so-and-so is refusing to pay his taxes,” Johnson said.
Currently, only a senator can file an ethics complaint against another senator.
Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) opposes the legislation saying it could give birth to political persecution using personal information.
Brown offered himself as an example of someone who filed an extension on his 2007 tax return. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he technically did not pay his taxes, but he added that filing an extension is a legitimate option.
Brown cited his health from keeping him from making money in his real estate business, but added, that it is “only a reason and not an excuse.”
“It’s not that I’m not paying taxes,” Brown said. “I probably don’t owe any,” he said.
“I don’t want to give political hacks on a committee” the power to start looking into personal information about other senators, Brown said.
Brown did not know if his name was one of three senators on the DOR list.
Johnson, chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, said he, himself, is not one of them.
Revenue Commissioner Bart L. Graham is scheduled to speak before the Senate Rules Committee at 3 p.m. Wednesday to give examples of the kind of information he would explore or the kind of complaint he might file if given the power.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Legislature
Comments
By jack dennis
March 4, 2009 11:09 AM | Link to this
Yet another shameful act by a politician. If Sen. Brown had any class, he would resign in shame. But I’m sure he won’t. He feels entitled and is sure to play the race card to excuse himself. The white folks have been keeping the brother down…ect.
By JT
March 4, 2009 2:17 PM | Link to this
If he filed for an extension in 2007 that extension deadline is passed and he now can be charged with failure to file. It does not matter if you are getting a refund or not. If you have income (revenue) you must file; it does not matter what your profit or loss is.
By DAN DEACON
March 4, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this
ROBERT BROWN is about as worthy of representing the senate seat that he holds as a maggot is deserving of the feast it host on. He’s done nothing signficant all the years he’s been in office except take up space and fresh air around him and earn money that he didnt’ deserve to receive. Wonder if he’s involved in any projects where there’s money involved? Investigaaaaaaate it!!
This discovery and admission by him not paying taxes should be the nail that shuts the coffin shut on him. No wonder he doesn’t support this bill…he’d be one that should be investigated and posted as a result of the bill. I say outcast this no good and fire his sorry butt.
By Tony
March 4, 2009 3:30 PM | Link to this
I am going to send mr Brown a t shirt that says im with stupid!
By SugarHillDawg
March 4, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
I wish they’d give the names of these DEADBEATS! Betchaall or the vast majority of them are DEMOCRATS! Seems to be in their mutant DNA!!!