So, what would happen to you if you didn't pay your taxes? Would you still be able to collect money from the government? I know I wouldn't. Would you go to jail? Maybe. Would the IRS make your life miserable? As certain as death (death and taxes, get it? Okay, not so funny).
Yet, there are General Services Administration contractors still getting paid, even though they, collectively, owe the government about $1.4 BILLION dollars! And government contractors, in total, owe $7.7 billion dollars OR MORE to the government!
more below...
The Government Accountability Office found more than 3,800 of those GSA contractors had tax debts that totaled about $1.4 billion. That figure may underestimate the amount owed, investigators said, because they did not examine contractors that failed to file tax returns or underreported their income.
The examination of GSA contracts is the third in the panel's series of hearings on contractors that owe federal taxes. The panel's staff said the hearings have identified $7.7 billion in taxes owed by government contractors.
Wow. This is our oversized Republican government at work. They keep paying people who owe THEM money! Outstanding.
Subcommittee Chairman Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said some of those contractors owed taxes but nevertheless bought luxury cars, boats and million-dollar properties.
"These are not your everyday tax delinquents, but rather contractors who receive millions of dollars from American taxpayers and yet refuse to pay their fair share of taxes," he said.
Just precious.
In 2004, the GAO released a report detailing similar problems with defense contractors. They hit a brick wall, apparently, because it is up to the DOD to help regulate the payments accordingly to pay off the tax debt, which they apparently refuse to do. (I don't know how to cut and paste from a pdf, sorry.)
Anyway, this is yet another example of what happens when tax-the-poor-and-spend Republicans are running things. Thought I would share.
A bonus positive thought of the day:
May everyone have an abundant life, in harmony with the earth, not just the select few.