Bronx Representative Loses a Tax Break
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland tax officials said that a New York representative is not entitled to a residents’ tax break on the house in a Washington suburb that he has claimed as his primary residence for at least 10 years.
Representative Eliot Engel has a house in Maryland.
The representative, Eliot Engel, calls himself a lifelong resident of the Bronx, where he rents an apartment. But he and his wife list the house in Potomac, Md., as their primary home on Maryland property tax forms.
They paid nearly $500,000 for the house in 1993, and it has almost doubled in value. The Engels have received thousands of dollars in tax credits that are reserved for people who declare Maryland their home.
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Mr. Engel was re-elected at least five times to represent the Bronx while property tax documents indicated his primary residence was in Potomac.New York and federal laws require that representatives be inhabitants of the state they represent when they are elected.
Apparently the Congressman believed that the tax burden in his home state was unfair. Instead of doing is patriotic duty and pay his fair share of taxes he thought it was proper to keep his money. But the biggest question that I would like to know is HOW MANY TIMES DID HE VOTE. Did he vote in New York and Maryland. Just asking.
THe story is here…. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/nyregion/14engel.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
