Former Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry has propelled himself to the
front ranks of candidates for Secretary of Health and Human
Services. He hasn't filed his taxes!
Not that this is unusual. He was convicted of violating the
tax law and has been on probation. But, too busy doing the
people's business, he's now violated the law (and his probation)
again.
Reports the Washington Post:
For the second time in two years, frustrated federal
prosecutors took aim at Marion Barry's chronic failure to file
his tax returns and urged a judge to put him in jail.
The move by authorities is the latest act in a long-running tug
of war between authorities and the D.C. Council member over his
tax status. In all, prosecutors say, Barry has failed to file
his returns on time in eight of the past nine years.
...
Barry's office issued a statement last night saying he hasn't
seen the prosecutor's motion. "I don't have any idea as to what
the motion says," he said. "I'm busy doing my work on the
Council helping people get jobs and find affordable housing."
HHS remains open. Can Barry's selection remain far behind?
About the Author
Doug Bandow is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and the Senior Fellow in International Religious Persecution at the Institute on Religion and Public Policy. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is author of Beyond Good Intentions: A Biblical View of Politics (Crossway).