| ► Corpus Christi legislators misappropriating state funds – tax avoidance |
 |
 |
|
Corpus Christi legislators misappropriating state funds – tax avoidance
Below are the names of several Texas state legislators from the Corpus Christi area that have received per diem payments from the State that were intended to defray the lodging costs they incurred while attending legislative sessions in Austin.
The legislature is in session in odd-numbered years for 140 days unless a special 30 days session is called. Put simply, the meet every two years. The facts set forth in the text boxes below demonstrate that these legislators personally pocketed per diem payments when in fact 100% of their lodging expenses during sessions in Austin were paid with funds contributed to their respective campaigns.
The columns in the text boxes below are defined as follows:
Ø Rent + Water = total lodging/water costs + monthly payments made by campaign
Ø Utilities/Misc. = electric, cable, gas, maid services, food/supplies, telephone costs
Ø Per Diem = amount paid to legislator (200-2007 are estimates)
Ø Amt. Owed = represents amount campaign paid for lodging expenses during sessions in Austin that the legislator pocketed when it lawfully should have been paid to campaign
Bottom line here is that the “Amt. Owed” is the amount directly paid to the legislator by the State Controller’s Office that did not represent any out-of-pockets costs for lodging by said officeholder.
Tax avoidance re: lodging costs paid by campaign
During even numbered years when the legislature was not in session, the 26 legislators named below continued to use campaign funds to pay 100% of lodging costs in Austin. Rather than drone on about this matter, I would invite you to review the facts set forth in a letter sent to IRS Commissioner Doug Schulman, which can be found at the URL listed under the article below.
Letter to IRS Commissioner Doug Schulman re: TX legislators as possible tax scofflaws
Herrero, Abel – 34th Rep. – Corpus Christi
Ortiz, Solomon, Jr. – 33rd Rep. – Corpus Christi
|