Posted on 04/07/2006 5:31:22 PM PDT by Libloather
Lawmaker's warning: Vote in New Orleans race could tip taxman
U.S. actor/comedian Bill Cosby makes a face during a rally for voting rights of displaced residents in New Orleans April 1, 2006. Many citizens scattered across the country since Hurricane Katrina may be unable to vote in the city's April 22 mayoral election, according to rally organizers. REUTERS/Lee Celano
BATON ROUGE, La. When New Orleans residents scattered about the country by Hurricane Katrina cast their ballots in the mayor's race, they'll be giving state tax collectors a way to locate them.
One Louisiana lawmaker says he wants people to know that voting in the April 22nd election reaffirms their state residency, meaning they will owe state taxes on any income they've earned elsewhere, and provides public address records for the revenue department to find them.
But Representative Joel Robideaux says he's worried his legislation to require displaced residents to be notified of the links between voting and taxes won't get a hearing before the New Orleans elections because some lawmakers believe it would stifle voter turnout.
Robideaux's legislation was shuffled to a new committee, and it's unclear when it will get a hearing.
Representative Cedric Richmond, an outspoken New Orleans legislator and chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, says he believes the legislation is an example of a series of attempts to keep people from casting ballots in the New Orleans municipal elections.
Voters can begin casting early ballots for the April 22nd election on Monday, either by way of absentee ballot or at one of 10 "satellite" voting stations set up around the state for displaced New Orleans voters.
Robideaux, a certified public accountant, says people should know that they are legally declaring their residency in Louisiana by voting and the implications of those votes.
Robideaux's resolution would require the attorney general's office to mail some sort of a notification to residents displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita about the tax implications of voting. The attorney general's office has a list with the out-of-state addresses of displaced residents.
To: National Desk
Contact: U.S. Department of Justice, 202-514-2007, 202-514-1888 (TDD); Web: http://www.usdoj.gov
WASHINGTON, April 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Justice Department today announced that from April 10 through 13, 2006, and on April 15, 2006, federal observers will monitor polling place activities at the Registrar of Voters offices in Shreveport and Monroe, La, two satellite early voting locations for the April 22, 2006, municipal and parochial primary elections for New Orleans.
Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department is authorized to ask the Office of Personnel Management to send federal observers to areas specially covered by the Act or by a federal court order. Caddo Parish, where Shreveport is located, and Ouachita Parish, where Monroe is located, are specially covered by the Voting Rights Act.
The observers will watch and record activities during early voting for the April 22 New Orleans elections at both polling locations. A Civil Rights Division attorney will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.
Each year, the Justice Department deploys hundreds of observers and attorneys to monitor elections across the country. In 2004, a record of 1,463 federal observers and 533 Department personnel were sent to monitor 163 elections in 105 jurisdictions in 29 states. This compares to 640 federal observers and 103 Department personnel deployed in 2000.
To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Justice Department's Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/index.htm.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060408/pl_usnw/justice_department_to_monitor_elections_in_louisiana318_xml
Bill Cosby makes a Face!
Just exactly how does this apply to the News / Story?
Sheesh
TT
You have to wonder how many of these "displaced" voters were taxpayers to begin with.
Some of the feeders might actually have gotten jobs.
I couldn't find a photo of the taxman. Sorry about that...
Put yourself in the state revenue position. Upwards to 200,000 residents have "suddenly" left. Most have jobs set up in other states now...paying their taxes. Of the vast majority of small business owners in New Orleans...I'd bet half are not back in business and half of that group won't ever be able to return to business (or won't do it in New Orleans). Since the hurricane...you've lost alot of sales tax revenue, and employee income tax. You can't make this up. The state will be in serious trouble by the end of this year with revenue probably 25 percent lagging behind expectations...and the city of New Orleans? Don't expect their case to get any better by the end of this year. My bet is that the Feds will be invited by the summer of 2007...to help run the municipal services of New Orleans...thats how bad this revenue thing will go. It'll be just another reason to leave the state.
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