Senator Landrieu has argued that the federal budget and deficit problems cannot be solved by spending reductions alone. She has suggested that the solution requires tax increases as well as spending cuts.
Additionally, she lectured Republicans that they must accept more revenues by eliminating some of the corporate-desired credits, such as “closing offshore tax havens” for corporations: “There is no doubt that we have a budget challenge on our hands and that revenues are not in line with spending. I have been saying consistently for years now that, in order to correct it, you’ve got to have both additional revenues and spending reductions.”
Here is the irony! The Advocate, on Feb. 19, 2013, reported in “Landrieu Blasted on Tax Debt” that Senator Mary Landrieu, and her husband, Frank Snellings, were delinquent in paying the $20,000 annual property taxes on their $2.36 million, Capitol Hill home.
Moreover, the senator and her husband also incurred property tax penalties in 2005 and 2006. The article also stated that Landrieu and her husband were out of the country traveling in Asia, and the Washington D.C. government offices were closed Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, due to the President’s Day federal holiday.
On Feb. 20, 2013, The Advocate reported in “Landrieu Believed D.C. Property Taxes Were Paid” that Senator Landrieu’s office provided an explanation of why the senator and her husband owed about $1,200 in back property tax penalties. Landrieu spokeswoman, Amber McDowell, said “Senator Landrieu and her husband believed that property taxes on their DC residence were paid in full by the required date of Sept. 15, 2012. They found out earlier this month that that wasn’t the case, and have worked with their attorney to satisfy the outstanding balances.”
Now, one has to wonder: Are Sen. Landrieu and her husband hypocrites and tax cheats? Or is Sen. Landrieu incompetent in handling the family’s finances, and if she can’t handle the family finances, how can we expect her to handle our finances?
Tax cheat or incompetent? Either way, I suggest that it is time for her to go!
Patrick Lynch is an assistant professor of accounting and can be reached at [email protected]
On The Record is a regular column open to all Loyola faculty and staff. Those interested in contributing can contact [email protected]
