Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChris Christie Caught Red-Handed Stealing $380,000 From Taxpayers To Pay For Lavish Lifestyle
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/chris-christie-caught-red-handed-stealing-380000-from-taxpayers-to-pay-for-lavish-lifestyle/In a new development that should surprise no one, it turns out Governor Chris Christie failed to report or pay taxes on over $380,000 in allowances of public money. Its just another black mark on a growing laundry list of shady practices that have come to define the Christie governorship. From the Bridgegate scandal to accepting luxurious gifts from foreign leaders, its clear that there has been a pattern of corrupt behavior which Christie has been growing more and more comfortable with, and that he would bring all that baggage with him to the White House should he decide to make a run for the presidency.
The state of New Jersey provides a salary of $175,000 a year to the governor, along with a $95,000 expense allowance originally intended for maintenance and holding functions at the lavish governors mansion at Drumthwacket. The maintenance of Drumthwacket is now handled by a nonprofit agency, allowing Mr. Christie to use the $95,000 as an extension of his personal salary in lieu of living in the mansion. He has failed to file that allowance, paid for by the taxpayers, as income for the past four years straight, allowing him to dodge $152,000 in federal income tax and another $33,000 in state taxes.
This just seems par for the course for a man who gave out two billion dollars in tax breaks to corporations associated with his political allies including a tax break that was worth more than the company it was given to. He drafted and signed an executive order allowing his travel expenses to be paid for by third parties, which is how he generously let King Abdullah of Jordan pick up a $30,000 hotel tab for him on a business trip. The list goes on and on; for example, state taxpayers paid over $13,000 for Mr. Christie and his family to attend the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans. In addition to the federal investigation over the George Washington bridge closures in 2012, yet another federal investigation is looking into the quashing of grand jury indictments against Christies political supporters in 2010. On top of all that, the Manhattan District Attorney is investigating Christies administration for the misappropriation of $1.8 billion in Port Authority infrastructure funds that somehow found their way somewhere else.
The allegations and investigations keep on piling on Mr. Christie, who somehow still thinks he has a reasonable shot at the Republican nomination. He travels to New Hampshire this week, where he announced Tuesday morning that he plans to raise the age for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits, along with the minimum age of early retirement. But the lengthy list of corruption charges, criminal abuses of power, and the sheer brazen willingness to take advantage of his position should immediately disqualify him from the White House. The wanton use of public funds with no remorse by Mr. Christie should be recognized as grave warning signs for what he might do if he had access to Americas budget. Under the Republican Congress and the influence of corporate lobbyists, Washington has turned into a veritable bazaar of influence and favors, and the last thing America needs is a greasy schemer like Christie getting his paws deeper in the mud.
The state of New Jersey provides a salary of $175,000 a year to the governor, along with a $95,000 expense allowance originally intended for maintenance and holding functions at the lavish governors mansion at Drumthwacket. The maintenance of Drumthwacket is now handled by a nonprofit agency, allowing Mr. Christie to use the $95,000 as an extension of his personal salary in lieu of living in the mansion. He has failed to file that allowance, paid for by the taxpayers, as income for the past four years straight, allowing him to dodge $152,000 in federal income tax and another $33,000 in state taxes.
This just seems par for the course for a man who gave out two billion dollars in tax breaks to corporations associated with his political allies including a tax break that was worth more than the company it was given to. He drafted and signed an executive order allowing his travel expenses to be paid for by third parties, which is how he generously let King Abdullah of Jordan pick up a $30,000 hotel tab for him on a business trip. The list goes on and on; for example, state taxpayers paid over $13,000 for Mr. Christie and his family to attend the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans. In addition to the federal investigation over the George Washington bridge closures in 2012, yet another federal investigation is looking into the quashing of grand jury indictments against Christies political supporters in 2010. On top of all that, the Manhattan District Attorney is investigating Christies administration for the misappropriation of $1.8 billion in Port Authority infrastructure funds that somehow found their way somewhere else.
The allegations and investigations keep on piling on Mr. Christie, who somehow still thinks he has a reasonable shot at the Republican nomination. He travels to New Hampshire this week, where he announced Tuesday morning that he plans to raise the age for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits, along with the minimum age of early retirement. But the lengthy list of corruption charges, criminal abuses of power, and the sheer brazen willingness to take advantage of his position should immediately disqualify him from the White House. The wanton use of public funds with no remorse by Mr. Christie should be recognized as grave warning signs for what he might do if he had access to Americas budget. Under the Republican Congress and the influence of corporate lobbyists, Washington has turned into a veritable bazaar of influence and favors, and the last thing America needs is a greasy schemer like Christie getting his paws deeper in the mud.
Sorry, Krispy Kreme. No room left in the clown car!
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
9 replies, 1408 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (24)
ReplyReply to this post
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Chris Christie Caught Red-Handed Stealing $380,000 From Taxpayers To Pay For Lavish Lifestyle (Original Post)
KamaAina
Apr 2015
OP
His bullying of the school teacher will forever make me want to punch him
NoJusticeNoPeace
Apr 2015
#1
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)1. His bullying of the school teacher will forever make me want to punch him
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)2. Looks like he is out of the presidential race.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)3. If only we had a DEPARTMENT in the federal government whose job was to administer JUSTICE
to corrupt officials.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)4. I keep waiting to see him in an orange jumpsuit.
Surely he's got to do the perpwalk sooner or later.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)5. He is entitled to the allowance, but did he take it?
I know that sometimes laws lag behind actual practice, but why hasn't the New Jersey legislature terminated the annual $95,000 expense allowance for the governor's mansion? But since it's still on the books, is there evidence that the governor has taken that $95,000 allowance? My reading of the article is that the $95,000 hasn't shown up as income in Christie's tax returns, but could that be because he hasn't taken advantage of it?
I'm as willing as the next person to think the worst of any Republican, but it seems that Christie has an easy refutation of any charges against him if he didn't spend the annual allowance.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)6. Who could have imagined that Bernie Madoff's bagman was a crook? Shocking!
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)7. Bernie Madoff's bagman?
Deets, please?
Cha
(297,180 posts)9. He thinks he's invincible.. thumbing his nose at the law.. "catch me if you can!"