Lawmakers got a deal on rent, pastors charge IRS asked to look into whether back tax are owed

[maddezmom]

Source: Columbus Dispatch

A group of Columbus pastors is asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether certain members of Congress owe taxes and penalties on cut-rate rent from a Washington boarding house that has a tax exemption as a church.

If the members did pay below-market rental rates to the C Street Center and did not report it as income, "then the members may have significant unreported income-tax liabilities," the pastors say in a complaint filed yesterday with the IRS.

¬snip¬

He and 12 other pastors from mainstream Christian denominations filed a complaint with the IRS on Feb. 23 challenging the tax-exempt status of the C Street Center, a red-brick house at 133 C St. SE, just a short walk from the Capitol. The pastors said they are concerned that the center is "an exclusive residential club for powerful officials (that) may be masquerading as a church."

In yesterday's supplement to the February complaint, the pastors cite a published report that, in 2009, members of Congress living at the C Street Center paid $950 per month in rent. Comparing the C Street Center to a small hotel or a bed-and-breakfast - it has 12 furnished bedrooms, nine bathrooms, five living rooms and housekeeping services - the pastors said the center is charging well below market rent to the members.


Read more: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/03/30/copy/lawmakers-got-a-deal-on-rent-pastors-charge.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

[47of74]

1. I hope the IRS investigates this

But realistically I don't hold out much hope there.

[AlbertCat]

4. But we could find out exactly who's in the Family.

My fake Dem rep, McIntyre, is a member of the Family. I'm not voting for any member of the Family! I seriously have loyalty questions about these folks. Whom do they serve? And it's not just if it comes down to the question "Which is it... USA or the Family", it's in their everyday, little common activities in government as well. If asked point blank, all would surely go with the USA. But what about their attitude and demeanor when it comes to little things that add up. Family (would they support an investigation? Even if they unknowingly broke the law?) or rule of law?

I, as a voter, have a right to know if any candidate is a member of a midwest militia, a secessionist movement in Alaska, or the Family.

[myrna minx]

2. K&R n/t

[Iwillnevergiveup]

3. This is the story Rachel's been covering

Hey, Bart Stupak, who pays your rent?

[greiner3]

5. Are they going to report;

That they probably have a pipeline to a couple of good whorehouses? Seems like those c street boys have a huge sexual appetite.

[Bitwit1234]

6. So the IRS under bush

investigated Rangel for paying below market rent on the apartments he had. Why aren't the going after the republicans. I know it's a bi-partisan thing, republicans go free we investigate Democrats.