Posted on 08/19/2004 7:24:04 PM PDT by right100
Following press inquiries about Teresa Heinz Kerry's massive fortune, which is estimated at between $900 million and $3.5 billion, and her apparent support for various environmental groups that have been campaigning on Kerry's behalf, Heinz has promised to release the first two pages of her 1040 tax return just one month before election day.[1]
As I type this, I am reviewing my 1040 tax return to see what the first two pages illustrate. The first two pages include nothing more than basic, raw numbers, including my salary and the sum of my deductions. The pages do not indicate the names of non-profit entities to which I have given money. In other words, the first two pages of a 1040 do not show much at all.
For sure, voters who have questions about Heinz will not find their answers in the two pages of her tax returns.
Candidates for federal office are required to disclose certain personal financial information. While not required, candidates traditionally release the financial information of their spouses as well.
This may be a minor issue in the spectrum of presidential issues. Regardless, tax returns do help voters gauge a candidate. For example, in the last election, Gore's tax returns revealed that he had earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary but gave only a few hundred dollars to charity.
Frankly, to me, disclosure of these tax returns to the American people does not seem like a big deal. Then again, I'm not a billionaire. Maybe billionaires see the world through a different lense.
As for me, I do not know why the Kerry campaign team is fighting so hard to prevent the American people from understanding Kerry and his wife. I do know this: do not hold your breath and expect the peculiar release of only two pages of tax forms to tell you anything you do not already know.
Notes:
[1] Teresa's Tax Returns, The Washington Times (April 30, 2004).
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Steven T. Voigt is a lawyer with a premier international law firm, with a practice based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After receiving his juris doctorate in 1999, Steven served as a judicial clerk to the Pennsylvania appellate court for one year before entering private practice. He is the author of numerous papers and publications on national public policy and law, most recently the book TYRANNY: The Collapse of Traditional Law in America (available on www.amazon.com) and the law review The United States Must Remain Steadfastly Opposed to The Rome Treaty International Criminal Court (published by Widener Law Review 2003). Steven's next book, No Political Solution, No Political Messiah, is scheduled for publication in September.
Among other community involvement, Steven is a Member of the Board of Advisors for Americandestiny.com. He also authors a free monthly e-newsletter discussing issues of national public policy, entitled Voigt on America. To subscribe to this free newsletter, simply send your name and e-mail address to Voigt2006@aol.com.
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© Copyright 2004 by Steven Voigt http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/voigt/040819
So, Stevie has been a lawyer for five years.
Don't you just hate rich people.
Think it will also show Teresa as a Euro/elitist financially and philosophically. You would think she might want to share her lists of 'charitable giving' at least; but we probably would not find anything remotely familiar here, however.
I would really like to know what foreign resources actually enrich her pockets and in what way; and those here as well; before this couple ever steps inside the White House.
Find it incredible; with billions of dollars; on paper or real. . .that financial scrutiny would not be demanded/required of this unique couple. . .
If I hear one more sugestion that 'Teresa's finances are her business'; I may do something 'untoward'. . .
I don't think Teresa will have to worry about releasing her returns. By this time next month I doubt that there will be a Kerry/Edwards ticket.
I want to hold that thought. . .
C'mon, Kucinich has got to be worth more than that!
Her tax returns may show that he holds dual citizenship (Mozambique), or is no longer a U.S. citizen, or that she is using offshore companies and trusts to shelter wealth from taxes, the so-called "Benedict Arnold" companies that Senator Kerry himself has been denouncing.
Her personal and trust expenses may also show some unsavory people whom she's paid business fees or hired outright. We all know that Enron's Ken Lay ran one of her Trusts up until last year or so...so who else will show up on his reports?!
5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires
Regards,
I would look at the dividends and capital gains to show that she benefited from the Bush tax cuts.
Also look for the disclosure of tax-exempt interest income. This would be a line item but not included in the total income.
Look to see how much ATM tax(Alternative Minimum Tax) @ 26% was paid.
Another item is the foreign tax credit.
Where are the tax returns? It's October 15th.
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