Posted on 04/26/2004 4:50:42 PM PDT by Jomini
Apparently, U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance, D-N.C., wasn't aware that federal income tax returns are to be in the mail no later than April 15 - every year. You would expect a congressman to be more knowledgeable.
The tax-exempt nonprofit organization he chairs filed its first tax return last year - only 10 years late - and only after the Carolina Journal reported that lapse so Ballance's constituents could learn who they had just sent to Congress to replace the retiring and respected Eva Clayton.
On April 15, 2003, Ballance said the organization he heads, The John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation, would have the tax information available the following week.
But it was late in July before a Form 990 for 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 was filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
How about 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, the Carolina Journal asked foundation executive director Eddie Lawrence. "The remaining years are being prepared by our accountant and will be filed with the IRS upon completion," he promised. It's almost a year later, and the forms remain overdue.
The telephone number for the Hyman Foundation has been disconnected, and Ballance's communications director doesn't communicate much because she doesn't return phone calls.
We're talking about some significant public money that is unaccounted for with this foundation. The nonprofit received $2.1 million in state funds to treat drug addicts and alcoholics since 1994 while Ballance was serving in the North Carolina General Assembly.
The state auditor's office last October reported that much of the money never found its way to the treatment of alcoholics and addicts.
Instead, Ballance, as foundation chairman, wrote many checks to relatives and to people who donated money to his political campaigns.
State Auditor Ralph Campbell said, "This program is riddled with conflicts of interest in providing contracts and services."
This scathing audit caught the attention of federal and state law enforcement officials who have been examining the close ties between Ballance's relatives, his campaign supporters and who gets money from the foundation. Some of those involved have been called to testify to a federal grand jury.
Supporters have suggested Ballance has been targeted because he is black, a ridiculous charge. State Auditor Campbell also is black, and what seems to be clearly a misuse of public money knows no color.
Like most members of Congress, Ballance likes to talk when he is among his constituents, but he has refused to talk about the Hyman Foundation, the investigation or where the money has gone.
The IRS can fine a tax-exempt organization $20 a day for each day it fails to file a return. That could add up to a fine of $100,000 or so.
We hope the voters of his eastern N.C. district make Ballance a private citizen again in November so he has more time to get a real job and help pay back the taxpayers for the money that was "misdirected" by his foundation.
Frank Ballance has been caught red-handed. He first voted himself monies as the number two man in the NC State Senate and then used the foundation's checkbook to reward his family and political operatives with "mini-grants" through Department of Corrections funding.
Governor Easley and Marc Basnight no longer return his calls. He has been effectively blackballed on the House floor and even the Democratic leadership wants nothing to do with him. In recent months he has developed a very pronounced nervous tick and some of his closest friends worry he may take his own life during any one of his increasing bouts of depression.
Today Toby Fitch's sister Christine filed against him in the Democratic primary. Former Pasquotank County Commissioner Sam Davis is expected to do the same. Meanwhile every Democratic operative and bagman in the First District is being squeezed by the Federal Grand Jury.
Erskine Bowles is cursing the day he ever became involved with Frank Ballance -- his operatives continuing late negotiations to have Ballance not file for reelection and instead let Justice Butterfield take the seat.
But the Black Caucus will have none of that -- with no Governor or Senate primary this year the Democratic Party "walking around money" will have to come from the Congressional candidate for July 20. They want their cash or there will be no bus loads of uneducated voters dumped off at the polls...
But all of Congressman Ballance's slush fund monies have been frozen...
2004 certainly a very bad year to be running as a Democrat in North Carolina. Congressman Ballance is going to sink the whole ticket...
J
Wow... When the newspapers outside the eastern part of the state start hopping on the anti-corruption bandwagon then you know the fire she is a smokin'...
Something about the sub-sonic missile strike at the waterline that will take just about any boat down. The article mentions how Ballance's Communications Director won't return any calls -- that's because Joanna resigned two weeks ago with short notice...
When the Titanic goes down best to have a little distance to avoid that whirlpool. The flimsiest lifeboat on the open sea safer than the most expensive state room on "B" deck...
Frank Ballance beaucoup dinky dao...
J
What set the Exocet apart from other air to sea missiles of the era was the intrinsic capacity to strike at the waterline -- the ship's most vulnerable spot. Sufficient force applied there will sink most any boat -- even such a lofty "unsinkable" craft as the Democratic party's behemoth Ballance.
Congressman Ballance's waterline is state senator Robert Holloman. Holloman succeeded Ballance in the redrawn 4th Senate District in 2002 while receiving a $31,000 "mini-grant" from the Hyman Foundation. Most of these monies were then laundered back to the Democrats through campaign contributions and the "cash in the bag" deposited at the Dare County restaurant that serves as the clearinghouse for illegal Democratic party funds in eastern North Carolina.
No doubt Holloman will be the first of the Democratic party operatives indicted. Please advise when you see the blinding flash of the Exocet strike -- and smell that lovely aroma of cordite...
Missile inbound and closing fast...
Frank Ballance beaucoup dinky dao
J
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