Mon Nov 04 2002 15:28:32 ET
The Republican Party of Arkansas On Monday launched an ad calling on Mark Pryor to account for his silence on the issue of his domestic help and whether or not he paid employment taxes. The ad:
Title: "Evade"
30-second TV spot
Script: He's the top law enforcement officer in Arkansas. It's his job to uphold the law. But now, Attorney General Mark Pryor is avoiding questions...
Questions that he allegedly paid an employee in cash, to evade the law requiring that he pay social security and income taxes.
Questions that Pryor avoided taxes... the rest of us have to pay.
If Mark Pryor doesn't obey the law in his own home, how can he enforce the law as Attorney General?
Little Rock -- On Sunday, November 3, 2002, it was reported that a woman worked for Attorney General Mark Pryor as a housekeeper in his home for approximately one year and was paid in cash for her services. This woman told several members of the media that Attorney General Pryor had paid her in cash at $7.00 - $10.00 an hour. She reportedly told Fox News that she never paid taxes on the income paid by Mark Pryor.
The revelation followed an anonymous phone call by an individual who provided very specific details, which were revealed to the press by party officials. The details included names, addresses, phone numbers and other highly detailed information.
Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Marty Ryall said, "The issue of whether this woman is an illegal alien is still in question. But more importantly, Mark Pryor's statement last night raises more questions than it provides answers. The fact that this woman was paid in cash raises serious questions about whether Pryor paid the legally required taxes, including payroll and social security taxes, on his employee."
Based on the dismissive tone of Mark Pryor's statement last night, does he really understand why his noncompliance with federal and state tax law is relevant? As Arkansas' chief law enforcement officer, Mark Pryor should be held to the very highest legal and ethical standard. Furthermore, Mark Pryor likes to talk a lot about the importance of saving social security, yet did he pay the required social security for his employee? Where is the documentation?
The IRS is very clear on when a person is required to file and pay taxes on a household employee. Under IRS Publication 926, a household employee includes those who baby-sit and do "light housework" part time.
Under the same IRS publication, if the employee makes more than $1,300 a year, then the employer must withhold Social Security, Medicare and Federal and State Income taxes. To reach the $1,300.00 threshold, she would only have to work 3 ½ hours a week at $7.00 per hour for the year. If Mark Pryor paid taxes on this woman, he should be able to quickly release the relevant paperwork. Pryor is required to file not only federal reports but also state reports with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Failure to file these returns may be illegal under Arkansas law.
Ryall continued, "We hope that Mark Pryor, as this State's chief law enforcement officer has followed his duties under current Federal and State law and hope that he can answer these questions and present the appropriate documents so as to finally put this issue to rest before voters go to the polls tomorrow."
This revelation raises more questions than answers:
ü Attorney General Mark Pryor is Arkansas's chief law enforcement officer, but did he obey the law?
ü Did he pay his housekeeper's income taxes?
ü Did he pay her social security taxes?
ü Did Mark Pryor fail to obey the same law that all other Arkansans have to obey?
Aside from the legalities (which ARE important), the democrat HYPOCRISY on this issue should be played up to the hilt.