[Vision2020] Where's the Idaho Attorney General?

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (January 1, 2011) Lewiston Tribune with thanks to Rep.
Shirley Ringo.

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Where's attorney general?

On Dec. 2, newly elected Idaho legislators, with raised hands, swore to
uphold the Idaho Constitution. Article VII, Section 5 of the constitution
specifies: "All taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects
within the territorial limits, of the authority levying the tax."
Considerable information has recently been published providing evidence
that the Idaho Tax Commission is giving sweetheart deals to certain
well-connected taxpayers. Despite all of this, there are claims that no
laws are being broken. It is disturbing that legislators do not assume
their responsibility to support the constitution. Laws must be enacted to
fulfill its mandates.

Sadly, the Idaho attorney general does not rush forward to address these
issues. He has affidavits from former and current employees of the Tax
Commission that charge improper conduct. The attorney general and the
governor were asked to assemble a bipartisan investigatory committee to
study the issue. They refused. Not only has the attorney general refused
to launch the investigation, his response to a lawsuit that seeks
remediation is to seek its dismissal.

When employees of the Tax Commission informed the attorney general that
Chairman Royce Chigbrow gave special consideration to his son's clients,
the attorney general's office investigated the allegations. We await his
recommendations. But the problems go far beyond that. Idaho citizens do
not appreciate special treatment for the few. They deserve a complete and
thorough investigation, and they deserve elected officials who show their
concern and support the Idaho Constitution. For further information, see
SUTinIdaho.org.

Shirley Ringo
Moscow

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Why worry about paying taxes when you are in bed with the tax collector?

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

“We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.”

- Leona Helmsley