Franken owes $70k in back taxes

AP has the story:

Franken to pay $70K in back taxes in 17 states
By PATRICK CONDON Associated Press Writer
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Senate candidate Al Franken, dogged by accusations that he failed to file tax returns in California, said Tuesday he will pay about $70,000 in back income taxes in 17 states going back to 2003.
Most of the income at issue was from speeches and other paid appearances by the comedian-turned candidate, who said he got bad advice from his accountant but takes responsibility for the errors.
The Minnesota Democrat told The Associated Press that he and his wife, Franni, "paid taxes on every cent of income we ever had." He said that during the years in question, he followed the accountant's advice and paid his entire income tax bill to the city and state where he lived at the time. He lived in New York City from 2003-05.
"What happened is our accountant made a mistake, and all of these are repercussions of that same mistake," said Franken. "His mistake was not understanding the law, the obligation to pay these state taxes."
Franken has been preparing for a tough fight against incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., but his campaign has been sidetracked in recent weeks by bookkeeping errors related to his private corporation, Alan Franken Inc. The campaign said last month it would pay a $25,000 fine to the state of New York for failure to carry workers' compensation insurance there.
The state Republican Party swiftly issued a statement in which it said Franken's "admission that he has violated laws in 17 different states since 2003 is only the beginning of the story." Party chairman Ron Carey said Franken's business activities "must have a full, and complete public airing if he is to retain any credibility as a candidate for public office."
In a conference call with reporters, Coleman called Franken's admission troubling.
"Paying taxes is an obligation that I think Minnesotans expect to be adhered to, and that Minnesotans do," Coleman said.
Franken said he's releasing the information to be transparent about his mistakes. He said he "would like to get back to talking about the lives of the people of Minnesota and the issues this campaign is about."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-04-29-08 1904EDT

If there's ANYONE that shouldn't talk about shoddy paperwork, it's Ron Carey of the MN GOP.

What's Ron's excuse for the fines the MN GOP has incurred under his leadership?

And it sure looks like Coleman's wife has unreported income problems.

Where is the "reporting" into that??!?

1) Franken paid every cent of every tax he's ever owed, but his accountant sent the money to the wrong states.

Interestingly, the end result is that Franken has volunteered to pay more than his tax burden, just like conservatives ask me to do every time I suggest the income tax should be raised.

It isn't clear whether he can be refunded his overpayment to the state of residence, where the owed taxes were paid. If he can be refunded that payment, then that state enjoyed an interest free loan for most of the past decade.

In addition, he has paid back taxes in the other jurisdiction which have been compounded with interest and fines.

Far from 'cheating' taxpayers, as a result of the mistakes his accountant made, taxpayers benefitted.

I also think it's worth noting that we haven't seen any displays of anger towards the accountant who represented that he knew interstate tax law and then failed to deliver the services he was paid for. I personally would call that fraud, and be very angry.

But Al Franken, who is supposed to have this "unsenatorial" temperament, is accepting ultimate responsibility for complying with the tax laws and, unless you have some footage I haven't seen, hasn't dropped a single f-bomb.

And even if he had, it would be far less obscene than the lies coming from Coleman, both about this campaign and about things that really matter to the people of Minnesota. That's the final, best point about this story.

Al is the best candidate for the US senate we have running here in Minnesota. Coleman's political ambition sent our kids to war, left our seniors without affordable health insurance, and has represented the interests of the National GOP and president Bush ahead of the interests of his constituents.

Al is only guilty of believing someone who pretended to know how to do more than they actually knew how to do.

My conscience will be much clearer once we elect Al to the Us Senate.

MN GOP Chair Ron Carey has been responsible for his party being fined by the FEC going back to at least 2001.

If anyone knows shoddy paperwork, it is GOP Chair Ron Carey.

Ron Carey has zero credibility to criticize anyone for any paperwork failures.

Not that that will stop him.

Don't give up hope, people!! We have -- and always have had -- a better option than Al Franken.

His name is Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. He's a university professor. I support him for these reasons and more...

Here's why:

1. As a former divinity student, he's squeaky clean.

2. Jack was against the war before it started.

3. Jack has written 16 books on foreign and domestic policy; he knows his stuff!

4. Environmentally, Jack's got higher standards than Al Franken. For example, he supports the 1-Sky Initiative. Al does not.

5. Jack supports single-payer universal health care. There's a big difference between that and universal health care.

Check Jack out... The website is

www.JackForSenate.org

We need to make wise choices... As Jack says, "this is 'the most important decade'".

Let's choose wisely!!

WE WHAT AL FRANKEN to be Minnesota’s next US Senator AND WE WANT TO ELIMINATE NORM COLEMAN ON SEPT. 9, 2008 I BY VOTING FOR JACK SHEPARD SO NORM COLEMAN’S NAME DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE General Election Ballot for US Senator.

Al Franken is in Trouble with this tax and tax fines from many states just the thing Norm Coleman is using against him- so if you wish Al Franken to be Minnesotans' next US Senate. You must join and vote for me, almost unelected able Jack Shepard to eliminate Norm Coleman in his own Republican primary on Sept. 9, 2008.

To “Dump Norm” visit to see how and forward everywhere in Minnesota.

And post every where we have 5 months to get the word OUT!

WE WHAT AL FRANKEN to be Minnesota’s next US Senator AND WE WANT TO ELIMINATE NORM COLEMAN ON SEPT. 9, 2008 I BY VOTING FOR JACK SHEPARD SO NORM COLEMAN’S NAME DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE General Election Ballot for US Senator.

THEN Al Franken does not have to even face Norm Coleman and his $7,000,000 in the US Senate General Election on Nov. 4.

http://www.jackshepardforsenate.com/Dump_Norm_Coleman.html

http://www.jackshepardforsenate.com/Chicken-Hawk.html

I, Dr. Jack Shepard am running against Senator Norm (Chick-Hawk) Coleman in the
Republican U.S. Senate Primary on Sept. 9, 2008. www.jackshepardforsenate.com

My campaign against Norm Coleman is called, “Anyone but Norm” we can “Dump
Norm” if enough Minnesotans old, young, Minnesotans from every walk of life;
Democrats, Independents, Ultra-Independents and other Anti-Norm, and Anti-War
People crossover and vote for almost unelectable Dr. Jack Shepard in the Republican
Primary so Senator Norm Coleman is defeated and does not face Al Franken in the
November General Election.

If Jack Shepard beats Norm (Chick-Hawk) Coleman in the GOP
Primary then Norm Coleman is eliminated from the Minnesota U.S.
Senate Race on September 9, 2008. This will make it impossible for
Norm Coleman to use his massive money advantage over Al Franken
of over 7 million dollars in dirty trick political ads against Al Franken
in the run up to the November General Election.

I call Norm Coleman a Chick-Hawk because he refused to serve in the military during the
Vietnam War when he was called while he has voted to send our sons, daughters, mothers
and fathers to go fight and die in the Iraqi War.

We can “Dump Norm” if Jack Shepard gets more votes then Norm Coleman gets in the
Republican U. S. Senate Primary on September 9, 2008.. Then the name Norm Coleman will
not be listed in the ballot in the Minnesota General Election as the Republican Candidate for
the U.S. Senate.

My web site is www.jackshepardforsenate.com is under construction being I only formed the
Jack Shepard for Senate Committee several weeks ago presently I do not have much funding
in my fight to eliminate Norm Coleman from the Minnesota U.S. senate Race in the
September 9, 2008 Republican U.S. Senate Primary so my web site is slowly getting
constructed.

I am already registered with the FEC as a Republican Candidate for the U.S. Senate in
Minnesota: Jack Shepard ID:S2MN00159 and the Jack Shepard for Senate Committee is
register with the FEC ID: C00448118 and the Jack Shepard for Senate Committee has
already filed its first quarter Committee report with the FEC.http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-
bin/fecimg/?S2MN00159