Alaska News

Lawmakers exempt themselves

Last month, the House passed HR 828, the Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act, which calls for the termination of any federal employees who are delinquent on their taxes. All well and good, if you draw a paycheck from the government you should pay your share of taxes. But the bill does not include elected or appointed federal employees such as congressmen, senators or cabinet officers like the head of the Treasury (who was severely delinquent on his taxes). If this offends you as it did me please contact Senators Murkowski and Begich and insist they add an amendment to include all federal employees. Appointed or elected federal employees need to be equally accountable. Otherwise this is just another example of our congressional leaders exempting themselves from the rules they expect us to live by.

-- John Klapproth

Seward

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