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BREAKING NEWS FROM THE NRSC: “FRANKEN MAY OWE TAXES IN 11 ADDITIONAL STATES, PLUS WASHINGTON, D.C.”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | June 26, 2008
Uh-oh. Al Franken’s tax troubles may not be over. Please read the press release below from the NRSC. Click here for the supporting documentation.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Comedian-turned-Democrat-Senate-candidate Al Franken hasn’t gotten his Senate campaign off to the greatest of starts. He’s fumbled his way through his company’s failure to pay workers compensation insurance for his employees and he’s bumbled through an attempt to be completely clear about his failure to pay taxes in 17 different states.
And now it appears as though there may be 11 more states and the District of Columbia in which Al Franken either failed to pay taxes, or failed to properly report his income.
Based on a compilation of news articles, Al Franken may owe taxes for events he reportedly attended or was scheduled to attend in Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
An attached chart indicates each event Franken reportedly attended or was scheduled to attend.
“Al Franken was forced to disclose taxes he owed in 17 different states,” NRSC Communications Director Rebecca Fisher said. “Now the question is — did he deliberately try to avoid disclosing the possibility of taxes in these states or was he just trying to get people to stop asking questions? Al Franken is creating a pattern of not being upfront with voters.
“If Franken is going to be a serious candidate for the Senate, he needs to give honest, serious answers to the legitimate questions voters are asking,” Fisher added.
UPDATE: This post will remain on the top of Minnesota Democrats Exposed for the next few hours. New posts will appear below.
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48 Responses to “BREAKING NEWS FROM THE NRSC: “FRANKEN MAY OWE TAXES IN 11 ADDITIONAL STATES, PLUS WASHINGTON, D.C.””
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June 26th, 2008 at 1:36 PM
““If Franken is going to be a serious candidate for the Senate, he needs to give honest, serious answers to the legitimate questions voters are asking,†Fisher added.”
When ya find a “legitimate voter” askin’ these questions, let me know, will ya?
June 26th, 2008 at 1:55 PM
I’m a legitimate voter and I want to know. Especially since a few weeks ago on “At Issue” he said very clearly there were no more of these coming.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:05 PM
aj, they’re just throwin’ crap at the wall, and hopin’ it sticks.
If they had proof, they’d show it. Especially since they claim Franken appeared with noted rightwinger Tucker Carlson.
But, the real thing I’m seeing, is that republiCon Ron is too embarrassed to be pullin’ this stunt himself, so he’s gettin’ someone else to do it for ol’ Smokescreen.
When is Norm gonna fight his own battles?
June 26th, 2008 at 2:06 PM
You’d think he’d have double and tripple checked all this by now. How flippin’ dumb is this guy?
June 26th, 2008 at 2:07 PM
My favorite line from this desperate release:
“Al Franken may owe taxes for events he reportedly attended or was scheduled to attend…”
That’s right. The party of no taxes now believe there is some sort of tax on people attending events in states outside of their own.
Events he REPORTEDLY or WAS SCHEDULED TO attend?
How weak is this?
I better call the IRS. I went to Chicago for a concert last summer. I bet Illinois is laying off cops left and right as a result of my failure to pay the mysterious new visitor tax. I won’t blame my accountant, though. I fully take the fall for not knowing about a tax that only exists in the deeply decayed minds of republican press release writers.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Leroy, ya want to know why they went to DC for this Press Farce? ‘Cause the local press ain’t buyin’ the republiCon Bull no more.
“GOP: But wait there’s more. Franken campaign: No, there isn’t.
Minnesota GOP Party Chair Ron Carey today held a Capitol news conference about Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken’s business dealings. He claimed that Franken owes taxes beyond the 17 states he disclosed yesterday and offered as proof book signings Franken did in Connecticut and Wisconsin in 2005, which charged admission. (Update: Mark Drake, spokeman for the state Republican party, said the book signings generated economic activity and therefore should have been reported.)
Um, no, said Jess McIntosh, of the Franken campaign.
“Book signings generally don’t generate taxable income….Book signings aren’t paid events,” said McIntosh.The proceeds from admission charges generally go to the book seller, not the book author. “A swing and a miss,” she said.
The press corps was curiously quiet at Carey’s press conference. We just asked a few questions and those after a long pause during which Carey joked: “You’ve got nothing left? We’ve covered it all.”
Could it be that Carey has just worn us down? By my count, today’s Capitol appearance to talk about Franken’s business dealings was at least Carey’s fifth in the last few weeks.
Posted by Rachel E. Stassen-Berger on April 30, 2008 2:42 PM
The Political Animal
This is one desperate campaign; sendin’ Brod to DC and now this Press Farce in DC.
Stick a fork in ol’ Smokescreen – he’s done!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 2:17 PM
average joe,
you’re a legitimate douche bag, don’t get the two confused.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:34 PM
I don’t believe that is possible as I recall them saying on several occasions that they had fixed this tax evasion problem and made good in all of the other 17 states.
He didn’t lie when he said it was <> 17 states, did he? Is that possible?
June 26th, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Angry Al is down to relying on his two butt boys, “johnson” & Leroy for support….pathetic.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Hey, Dumber – on April 30th, republiCon Ron tried his last Press Farce on this subject, as described by Rachel, above. The press wasn’t buyin’ the crap repuliCon Ron was throwing.
Knowing that throwing more wouldn’t work here, they took this Press Farce to W.D.C., hoping it would work there.
Bottom line: republiCon Ron claimed there was more on April 30th; there wasn’t. Since they were wrong then, what makes anyone think they got it right this time?
This is a prime example of ol’ Smokescreen’s electoral strategy: “More Of The Same.”
Which, of course, matches Bushy McSame’s electoral strategy – “More Of The Same.”
June 26th, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Bottom line: Al Franken dodged his tax responsibilities in 28 of 50 states. What’s next, Guam?
June 26th, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Bottom line? Numbers don’t lie, but Chestnut uses numbers.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Funny. If someone could find two more states that could consider Franken a tax cheat, then the percentage of states that do consider Franken a tax cheat (60 percent) would equal the percentage of Minnesota voters who did not prefer Al Franken for Senate in a recent poll (60 percent).
June 26th, 2008 at 3:34 PM
I hope that “johnson” has a good stash of doughnuts and fried chicken on hand; he’s gonna need the energy. Angry Al needs cash and that means he’ll probably have his favorite butt boys hitting the streets.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:38 PM
al franken on 4/28/08: “I’m very confident that this is it, but you never say never.”
now i might agree if one or two more states popped up he could use the “never say never” phrase, but 12 more tax authorities????
the one thing he has going for him is that based on the handling of his own financial matters, he would probably fit right in with most of those in congress.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:43 PM
I am not sure whether they have proof or not, but that is part of the dare. They are daring Frankenuts to deny their report, then hit him with it. The coverup is always the story, so they are not going public with the truth. Given the lack of knowledge about their own candidate by Team FUpken, I am willing to bet they don’t know either. The GOP is laying it out there for Franken to deny, then hit him with proof.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:44 PM
ansel, do you know the meaning of the word “allegation”?
Here’s a definition you might be able to follow: “throwing crap against the wall and hoping it sticks.” You know, like you’re doing, now?
June 26th, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Say, TruthIsLacking?
republiCon Ron tried that on April 30th; it didn’t work. You know, when the Pioneer Press quoted Jess McIntosh as sayin’ Team Gumby swung and missed?
June 26th, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Well, Jess don’t call ol’ Smokescreen’s team, “Team Gumby.” That’s me. But, it’s accurate. If ya don’t agree with Coleman today, don’t worry – sooner or later ya will, ’cause that clown twists more than Gumby.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:54 PM
From Tommy Johnson:
“ansel, do you know the meaning of the word “allegationâ€?
Here’s a definition you might be able to follow: “throwing crap against the wall and hoping it sticks.†You know, like you’re doing, now?”
So, do you see any correlation between this and what you and some other liberal blogs said about Coleman’s recent ad? I mean, you would think it would be possible to at least see the irony in the statement above and some of your statements over the last several days.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:57 PM
what is a FUpken
is that your attempt at whit thedoucheisoutthere?
if so you failed MISERABLE, that news is potential disastrous for team douchebag.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Hey – I didn’t accuse ol’ Smokescreen of GreenScreening. Did others? Yep. Did they own up? No, because some of ‘em are sayin’ that “proof” provided – all 8 seconds – isn’t “proof.” Whatever. Wasn’t my deal.
Now, I am ignoring the Abramoff Scandal? You bet. Norm held not one Abramoff hearing.
If you understand “irony”, then you understand the idea of Ron Carey chastizing ANYONE for shoddy paperwork is the definition of irony. And hypocrisy, too.
Anybody want to bet a “MDE-MnPublius Happy Hour beer” nobody local writes about this W.D.C. tossed at the wall crap? Blogs don’t count.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Swiftee: “Angry Al needs cash and that means he’ll probably have his two favorite butt boys hitting the streets.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The above was written by what could very well be “A VERY SICK MAN.”
June 26th, 2008 at 5:24 PM
If all of this is true, when is it going to show up in the main-stream press?
June 26th, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Perhaps when the MSPress has larger budgets for MSNews and smaller budgdts for MSPaul tap dancing and wide-stances.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:44 PM
The bad news just keeps coming for Angry Al. If it weren’t for the enjoyment of seeing his supporters squirm, I might start to feel sorry for him. Thanks again Michael and keep up the great work!
June 26th, 2008 at 6:05 PM
It sounds like another commercial from another Semi-Enlightened One.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Can someone please tell me how much tax a person is assessed for attending or being scheduled to attend an event out of state?
My cousin is getting married later this summer in Oregon, and I want to start saving now for the taxes I may have to pay for leaving Minnesota. And since I said I was going on this blog, does that mean I have to pay the tax anyway because I said I was planning to attend?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:10 PM
I can now see Al really wants to be a Senator, other than his deep commitment to the downtrodden masses…I think he might have a real tax problem he needs to fix…
June 26th, 2008 at 7:12 PM
you’re a legitimate douche bag
That’s okay, Yoni. The Lord loves you but the rest of us think you’re an a-hole.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Speak for yourself, aj. Like this:
“Say, aj? The Lord loves you, but I think you’re a (cheney)in’ JERK.”
And ya know what the beauty is, pal? I don’t have to ask forgiveness for sayin’ that.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Is that a “me, too” comeback? How original.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:34 PM
No, aj, that’s a “you’re a wuss when ya say ‘we’ comment’.
Learn to stand up and speak for yourself.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:41 PM
You’re obviously overestimating my interest in what you think.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:02 PM
[...] BREAKING NEWS FROM THE NRSC: “FRANKEN MAY OWE TAXES IN 11 ADDITIONAL STATES, PLUS WASHINGTON, … | [...]
June 26th, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Tommy: Team Franken admitted this afternoon that they owed back taxes in Kentucky – a state not previously disclosed.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:36 PM
I’m wondering if Al was for paying his taxes before he neglected to pay his taxes and now that he knows that we know he neglected to pay his taxes, he’s for us ignoring the fact that he didn’t pay his taxes. If amount in Line 2008 should have been greater than $0, then deduct points from poll numbers and pay penalty.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Laura Brod was working on States, then she switched to a District, now I expect her to begin working on insular areas (generally, areas that are neither a state nor a district but are owned/governed by the United States.
Laura Brod may get to the Northern Marianas yet.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Michael: how do you think ol’ Smokescreen not paying his rent will play?
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/print_friendly.php?ID=nj_20080628_2254
June 27th, 2008 at 6:19 AM
Yawn.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:51 AM
It just keeps getting better and better.
Pornorama
Evading workers compensation insurance payments
Failure to file in 17 states
Kentucky back taxes not disclosed
Watching Stuart Smalley squirm: Priceless
June 27th, 2008 at 10:01 AM
11:49 pm, and “johnson” still has his nose buried into Angry Al’s gluteous maximus.
That’s dedication, fat boy.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:07 PM
nothing beats personal attacks about ones appearance by someone over 40 and likes to expose his genitals on political blogs.
Michael, what about the other ’10′ states? and that Kentucky thing is old news, they paid those a long time ago.
AJ,
i know you are but what am i
June 27th, 2008 at 1:31 PM
I think Yoni’s hot for for the Swiftee phys!
June 27th, 2008 at 1:39 PM
not sure what that means swiftee, but i think you are probably right
June 27th, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Dimwitted Albatross Franken comes back to town and now he wants to make Minnesota live by his measuring stick. Maybe he should have kept on flying until he reached the left coast where they might really like another moron to run them from Washington. Since the bulk of him money comes from other than Minnesota, maybe it’s because Minnesota is too smart for my Stuart Smalley.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:21 AM
[...] opponents want to compare this to Al Franken and his serial tax problems in as many as twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia. Unfortunately, there are very [...]
July 7th, 2008 at 9:52 AM
[...] of Ohio. This was never publicly disclosed in any media reports about Franken’s tax problems. If the NRSC hadn’t sent out their press release ten days ago, Minnesotans never would have known that Team Franken had made payments to Kentucky for [...]