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DEL.ICIO.USPass the smelling salts: O’Neal gives Capitol press corps the vapors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State Rep. Larry O’Neal of Warner Robins took to the well late Tuesday. It was the first address by the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee since a particular situation erupted last summer.
“I’ll tell you right up front, it is a retroactive tax bill,” O’Neal said — loudly, for the deaf and sleeping members in the back. “In case you didn’t hear me, it is a ret-ro-ac-tive tax bill.”
Interesting word, retroactive. O’Neal used it perhaps a dozen times in a few short minutes, to describe his omnibus tax bill — an annual attempt to incorporate changes in the federal tax code into Georgia’s tax law.
“What effect does this bill have? Is it retroactive?” asked House Speaker Glenn Richardson of Hiram.
“It is a retroactive tax bill, Mr. Speaker.”
“We can actually do that?”
“We’re gonna see,” O’Neal said.
Two years ago, there was another omnibus tax bill. It passed the House with no problem. The measure contained a change to allow residents who sell property in Georgia, then use the proceeds to buy land out-of-state, to defer paying a capital gains tax. Good news for taxpayers.
While on the Senate side, the bill was made even better. Reportedly at O’Neal’s behest, lawmakers approved a last-minute modification. The bill was made ret-ro-ac-tive to 2004.
This small adjustment allowed one of O’Neal’s friends and business associates, Gov. Sonny Perdue, to claim a $100,000 tax deferral on $2 million land purchase in Florida, made in 2004.
The transaction was much talked about during last year’s campaign for governor. An ethics complaint was lodged against O’Neal, but was dismissed recently by a panel of three GOP colleagues — because the incident was older than the ethics legislation that might have covered it.
The attention, and the suggestion that he might have helped a client/friend in a position of power, has made O’Neal angry. In ret-ro-spect, other people are probably angry, too.
In the well on Tuesday, O’Neal asked fellow House members to search for the package of papers before them.
“You have on your desk a fiscal analysis prepared by Georgia State….I caution you to read it carefully before you vote on this legislation,” he said.
“I can tell you from past and current experience that if a close friend, family member, even your momma might benefit from these provisions, you’re likely to be criticized in your next campaign,” O’Neal said. “And written about in the Salem Constitution and Journal, in the witch-hunt section, where the truth never gets in the way of a good story.”
It was a disappointing comment. We are, as most of you know, the Journal-Constitution.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Burdell
February 27, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this
It’s funny considering that if O’Neal had been this up-front about the previous bill being ret-ro-ac-tive in 2005, there wouldn’t have been a problem.
Thing is, apparently only one other person knew the 2005 bill was ret-ro-ac-tive, and that person is the only one who took advantage of it.
I hope Mr. O’Neal can see the difference between that and a witch-hunt.
By RJ
February 27, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this
Who does this guy think he is? I have read the fact based complaint and O’ Neal’s fable attempt at humor about it, along with his arrogant indifference to questions from the press, make me sick. His partisanship defense, as well as his deflection strategy of attacking the AJC will not change the facts, “which are stubborn things.”
I predict that once the feds review the fact based complaint and investigate it, O’Neal and Perdue will be prosecuted under the federal “Honest Service Fraud Statue.” It may take a year but its going to happen.
This governing crowd better enjoy while they can because the degree and extent of arrogance they are displaying on a host of fronts is ensuring that its short lived.
By Peyton Walters
February 28, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
The self-righteous good ol’ boys in the Houston County Mafia make me sick. They had a chance to change business as usual in Atlanta, but instead suck the public trough dry and p** in the eyes of anyone who points it out. I hope the whole lot of them, particularly the buffoon governor, wind up under the jail before its over. Go IRS!
By edge770
February 28, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this
Actually I thought it was the urinal and constipation as described by some colleagues.
By tribalecho
February 28, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Oh goody. A new episode of Republicans Gone Wild!