Free Republic

Court records from Florida to New York state reveal that Sharif and his younger brother, Samir "Sammy" El-Gamal, 35, a partner with him in his company SoHo Properties, both have a history replete with intersections with tax and debt issues, dating back to at least 1994 and continuing into this year. In one instance, Sharif told a court he didn't hit a tenant from whom his brother and he were trying to collect back rent. He said to police, the tenant's "face could have run into my hand." The New York Post reported yesterday that Sharif and SoHo Properties are...

Redding resident Richard "Dick" Morris, who was former President Clinton's chief campaign adviser, is one of the state's top income tax delinquents. Morris, of Beeholm Road, West Redding, owes the state $289,200, making him seventh on the list of the state's worst 100 tax delinquents. That amount includes interest and penalties. The list of the top 100 is on the state Department of Revenue Services Web site, www.ct.gov/drs. It is updated monthly. The state's worst delinquent is Thomas Mae, a South Windsor man, who owes about $617,100 in income taxes, interest and penalties. The top 100 are all at least...

At least 13 states have discovered a way to get delinquent taxpayers to pay up -- shame. Actually, public humiliation isn't a new idea. In the old days, governments posted the names of debtors in town squares or newspapers. Should states use "shame" lists online to catch tax evaders?Yes, it's effective and fair.Maybe, but only in limited cases.No, it's not appropriate. The new twist is the Internet, with states using catchy names such as Louisiana's CyberShame and Debtor's Corner in South Carolina. In Louisiana, the state can also list people who own more than 50 percent of a business that...