HHS head Leavitt using charity as "personal piggy bank"

[rfranklin]

Republican "giving" at its best

HHS chief’s tax deductions under scrutiny
Charitable foundation paid out little until recently


By Jonathan Weisman
The Washington Post

Updated: 1:21 a.m. ET July 21, 2006
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his relatives have claimed millions of dollars in tax deductions through a type of charitable foundation they created that until recently paid out very little in actual charity, tax records show.

(snip)

While Mike Leavitt alone has claimed about $1.2 million in tax write-offs since 2000, the foundation gave away only $49,000 in 2002 and $52,000 the next year, according to tax returns and other documents filed by the foundation. Meanwhile, the foundation's assets have been used for a $332,000 loan to Leavitt Land and Investment Inc., in which the secretary owns a significant stake, and other secured loans for insurance and real estate deals, said Alan A. Jones, a trustee of the organization.

(snip)

But Rick Cohen, executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, said that "the Leavitts are using the foundation as a personal piggy bank, and that's not what the public -- or Congress -- ought to tolerate." Cohen reviewed the family foundation's records and tax returns at the request of The Washington Post.

(more)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13961123/

[Lerkfish]

1. nothing is safe that isn't nailed down from republican graft and corruptio

corruption.

a massive infestion of theives, cads and n'er do wells have squatted in the halls of government and claimed themselves owners.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. and anything that can be pried loose isn't regarded as being really nailed

down.

To complete a Terry Pratchett quote (or close as I recall).

[SoCalDem]

2. Slush funds abound.. This is why I firmly believe in term limits

Serve your country, BUT no nore than 5 years..and then go back to your "real" life.. These "career shushies" are bleeding us dry.. they enter government, learn at the knee of BIG SLURPIES, take sneaky money to stay in power, then they CREATE laws that they will later USE for their own benefit, and even when they change "government jobs", they NEVER REALLY leave..

I cannot believe that with almost 300 million people in this country, the crew we have running the place is the best we can do..

Lifetime government people are dangerous.. and YES, I know there are some good ones, but dammit, they are so outnumbered, they can rarely affect any real change, so it's worth it to "lose" them , if we can get new people in who are NOT lifers..

Imagine how it would be with NO pacs, no corporate lobbyists, and just honest people who truly served..and then went on to their real lives afterwards..
Public financing is the only way this can happen.. and term limits..

Without those two in tandem, we only get more of the same..

[AzDar]

3. Well-put, SoCalDem. n/t

[BonnieJW]

4. Great

Terrible. He's a crook. And what's going to happen to him?????

[grateful581]

5. Leavitt has always been a corrupt POS

This story is a another good example of that.

He fits well in the bush crime family.

[lonestarnot]

6. Beware of organized corp. charity.

Biggest bullshit fraud excuse for theft faithbased initiative bushit and more bushit.

[rubberducky]

7. It`s because of people like this

that I contribute to NO major charity. I go to Costco and take supplies to our local women`s shelter and to a church-based group that my aunt works for. This way I know where my money is going.