Carnahan should follow Senator Kerry’s Lead and Pay Up

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) July 28, 2010 – Join Ed Martin for a press conference at the St. Louis landing of the Mississippi River across from the Arch. As word spreads of Senator John Kerry coming forward to pay [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

Carnahan should follow Senator Kerry’s Lead and Pay Up

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) July 28, 2010 – Join Ed Martin for a press conference at the St. Louis landing of the Mississippi River across from the Arch. As word spreads of Senator John Kerry coming forward to pay taxes on his yacht moored in another state, Ed Martin calls on Congressman Russ Carnahan to step forward and pay his taxes too.

When: Today July 28, 2010 at 11:30am

Where: Top of the stairs near the Arch

Just like Senator Kerry avoided paying taxes on his 76-foot yacht mooring it in Rhode Island, Congressman Carnahan is avoiding paying personal property taxes on his 42-foot yacht by docking it in Alton, Illinois instead of his hometown.

Unlike Senator Kerry, who in a recent written statement said, “The payment is being made promptly,” Congressman Carnahan continues to dodge taxes and questions surrounding his yacht. Kerry came forward in a matter of days; Carnahan’s tax evasion was brought to light in April yet the Congressman is still trying to sweep it under the rug.

Carnahan’s scandal delves deeper than just tax evasion too. His boat, “Attractive Nuisance,” went unregistered for years according to the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Information Exchange. And he neglected to disclose his LLC on his yacht for years too.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

Why did it take so long for  The Most Honest, Most Open and Most Ethical Congress in History™ [...]]]> Representative Charlie Rangel, after years of foot-dragging by The Most Honest, Most Open and Most Ethical Congress in History™, has actually been charged by the House with ethical lapses, and actually faces an investigation.

Why did it take so long for  The Most Honest, Most Open and Most Ethical Congress in History™ to get around to looking into what are clear and egregious violations?  To quote the Beatles, Congressman Rangel got by with a little help from his friends.

One of his friends was Congressman Russ Carnahan.  In his time in office, Russ Carnahan repeatedly voted to keep investigators out of the powerful Ways and Means Committee chairman’s affairs.  At least five times, Russ Carnahan was part of the ad hoc “Save Charlie Caucus”.  You can imagine how appreciative Charlie Rangel must have been.  Considering the comparison below between Russ Carnahan and Charlie Rangel, you can imagine how much Russ Carnahan would appreciate the precedent.

Russ Carnahan	Charles Rangel
Voted for tax increases, but avoided Missouri personal property taxes by parking yacht accross the river in Illinois	Voted for tax increases, but simply did not pay his taxes
Used his position to get 90 million in stimulus funds for his brother Tom Carnahan’s company, Wind Capital Group	Used his positions to get tax breaks for donors to a library named after him.
“Forgot” to disclose ownership in two corporations, one that owned his yacht, the other used in a sweetheart real estate deal with two campaign donors.	“Forgot” to pay taxes on rental property in the Dominican Republic.
Paid himself “rent” for office space out of campaign contributions, though his corporation did not appear to own office space.	Using rent controlled apartments for office space

Charlie Rangel is a lifelong liberal, clearly I disagree with him vigorously on issues. He is also a wounded veteran, having served his nation honorably.  I find it tragic that over the decades his career rotted out – an argument for term limits I believe.  Russ Carnahan’s lapses are a miniature version, different largely in degree, not by type.  Russ and Charlie have parallel voting records, and in less than a decade, Russ has carved out a similar path toward the worst precincts of Washington.

I am running my campaign like I want Washington to run – lean and thrifty.  I am proud of how the campaign staff squeezes every drop of benefit from contributions.  You can count on your contribution of any amount – $10, $30, $50 or $100 beign used wisely.

In just a few days, the primary will be over.  Some of you have the means to give the maximum prior to the election.  Your total contribution of $2400 before August 3rd will helpo us win in November.

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	Ed Martin for Congress 6037 Hampton Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63109

America is $13 trillion in debt, but Russ is fronting an international boondoggle

Russ Carnahan has a new Limousine Liberal friend.  Don Cheadle, lately in Iron Man II has glommed on to Congressman Russ Carnahan.  Why? Because our congressman is pushing some cockamamie conservation scheme that “Directs the President, through the Coordinator for [...]]]>

America is $13 trillion in debt, but Russ is fronting an international boondoggle

Russ Carnahan has a new Limousine Liberal friend.  Don Cheadle, lately in Iron Man II has glommed on to Congressman Russ Carnahan.  Why? Because our congressman is pushing some cockamamie conservation scheme that “Directs the President, through the Coordinator for Global Conservation, to establish the International Conservation Strategy to help combat global natural resource and biodiversity degradation in developing countries.” 

Mr.  Cheadle who “has grown as a global activist since appearing in ‘Hotel Rwanda,’” has latched onto the effort to take our hard-earned cash and waste it on a Hollywood cause.  Your tax dollars at work.

Thirteen trillion dollars ($13,000,000,000,000) – that’s how much debt America is in.  To put this in perspective, this figure is over 90% of our gross domestic product for a year.

Put another way, every dollar produced in this nation from every hour worked, the value of every item manufactured, every service rendered and every good sold for a year would have to be pooled and used to pay off our debt.  Obviously that is not how we pay off our debts, but this is the magnitude of our problem.

Any debt counselor will tell someone deeply in debt that they do not have an earning problem – they have a spending problem.  Congress has for decades spent more than they took in.  Even when tax cuts grew the economy they simply spent even more.  Congressman Carnahan’s “global conservation” effort is just another example of a binge spender putting an expensive trinket on the credit card.

Russ Carnahan is an easy rubberstamp for Nancy Pelosi to explode the deficit.  He’s voted for bailouts, he’s voted for a failed stimulus, and now he’s pushing some absurd scheme that may save a giraffe in the Serengeti, but it won’t bring the Dodge Ram back to Fenton.  At least Russ Carnahan’s Hollywood buddy Don Cheadle may send a fat campaign check.

This is the sort of thing I want to end, but I will need your support.  While in congress, I will refuse to go along with boondoggles like this, so I won’t be expecting the help of rich friends and foundations to take on big-government tax and spender Russ Carnahan.  That’s why every dollar of support from you is crucial to our campaign.  Please consider a generous contribution of $25, $50, or more as a monthly contribution. If you have the means can you plan on budgeting for maximum individual contributions? You can give $2400 before the August 3rd primary, and another $2400 for the November election.  I know this is a sacrifice in tough times, but these are the measures we need to make to stop  congressman Carnahan and Nancy Pelosi from further bankrupting our nation.

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Contribute by Mail: Ed Martin for Congress  6037 Hampton Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63109

A Timeline of the Congressman’s Wasteful Spending

(ST. LOUIS, MO) May 11, 2010 – Congressman Russ Carnahan has a long history of being fiscally irresponsible with tax dollars. The new website created and paid for by the Ed Martin for Congress Campaign offers a timeline that pinpoints his wasteful [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

A Timeline of the Congressman’s Wasteful Spending

(ST. LOUIS, MO) May 11, 2010 – Congressman Russ Carnahan has a long history of being fiscally irresponsible with tax dollars. The new website created and paid for by the Ed Martin for Congress Campaign offers a timeline that pinpoints his wasteful spending while in office. The name of the site www.ninetymilliondollarcarnahan.com directly correlates to the $90 million dollars in federal stimulus money allocated to Carnahan’s brother, Tom, for his windmill farm. Rubberstamp Russ Carnahan’s fiscally irresponsible actions have already cost Missouri’s 3rd district constituents millions to billions of dollars and it continues to rise. Carnahan is costing taxpayers money from his vote on the stimulus bill to help secure his family’s financial gain, to his vote on Obamacare and the deficit extension, not to mention the use of taypayer money to campaign using frank mail.

“I think families should realize the wasteful ways in which their hard earned dollars are being misused by Congressman Carnahan. The timeline shows how time after time he votes to continue the out-of-control spending rampant in Washington, D.C. Since there is little transparency and Carnahan refuses to curb his costly actions you can count on us to disburse the information to constituents ourselves,” said 3rd district congressional candidate, Ed Martin.

Since Congressman Carnahan has such a habit of spending; you can expect the website to be an ongoing work in progress – including ways he himself avoids paying taxes.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

Misuses Congressional Power for Campaign Purposes

(ST. LOUIS, MO) May 5, 2010 –Congressman Russ Carnahan is taking full advantage of mailing 3rd district constituents on their dime. Just in the past few months he’s sent out five different multi-color mailings and a letter with the seal of [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

Misuses Congressional Power for Campaign Purposes

(ST. LOUIS, MO) May 5, 2010 –Congressman Russ Carnahan is taking full advantage of mailing 3^rd district constituents on their dime. Just in the past few months he’s sent out five different multi-color mailings and a letter with the seal of the Congressman’s office on it. These mass mailings have become routine for Carnahan as he tries to organize his re-election campaign. He has sent constituents this frank mail trying to sell them on everything from the takeover of health care to senior’s issues. While constituents have complained about these mass mailings produced and sent using their money; Carnahan continues to inundate people as he campaigns.

The Democratic campaign consulting firm, The Chadderdon Group, which proudly produces Carnahan’s multi-color letters may be edgy but it’s costly too. Looking at House disbursement records it shows Carnahan spent $68,838.43 for a mailing to 233,482 people. Another House member sent a mailing to more than six times that many people for just eight grand more. (House Document 111-86 Oct. 1, 2009 – Jan. 2, 2010) It’s indicative of Carnahan’s out-of-control spending habit and misuse of taxpayer money. It’s money that isn’t even being poured back into his district. The Chadderdon Group, in the Washington, D.C. Beltway, states it is a political campaign consulting firm and proudly displays one of Carnahan’s “informative” mailings on its website. Chadderdon also touts an “award winner” mailing for being the “toughest direct mail piece.” This ad boastfully shows the picture of an abused child. This firm is as out of touch with the values of Missouri’s third district as Carnahan is himself.

“Carnahan is blatantly misusing the power of his office to campaign. That’s not just bad politics it’s poor judgment. He is recklessly spending taxpayer’s hard earned money to campaign. We are in a recession and you have a congressman who instead of facing the people of his district in public town halls sends out costly ad letters and on the people’s dime. He didn’t even bother to hire one of our local firms that are struggling to stay in business. Congressman Carnahan truly doesn’t understand the needs of his constituents and is burdening them with his campaign costs,” said 3^rd district congressional candidate, Ed Martin.

To date the six mass mailings sent equals more than half a million pieces of mail. This constant campaigning, disguised as frank mail, has cost taxpayers almost a quarter of a million dollars.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

Did Russ Carnahan break the law? As yacht-gate enters third week, possible legal problems looming

JEFFERSON CITY—With the City of St. Louis facing unprecedented budget shortfalls, Congressman Russ Carnahan has admitted that he has not paid St. Louis City personal property taxes [...]]]> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2010
Contact Jonathon Prouty
573-636-3146

Did Russ Carnahan break the law?
As yacht-gate enters third week, possible legal problems looming

JEFFERSON CITY—With the City of St. Louis facing unprecedented budget shortfalls, Congressman Russ Carnahan has admitted that he has not paid St. Louis City personal property taxes on his unregistered 42-foot yacht.  Carnahan moved the yacht from Missouri to Illinois, where yachts are exempt from personal property taxes.

Now, new questions are arising about whether Carnahan broke the law when he signed his 2009 St. Louis City Personal Property Tax Return.

The language found on the document, which Carnahan was forced to sign, clearly states that it is against the law to purposefully move personal property out of state to avoid taxes:

“I/We do hereby certify that the foregoing list contains a true and correct statement of all tangible personal property made taxable by the laws for the State of Missouri which I owned or which I had under my charge or management on the first day of January 2009. I further certify that I have not sent or taken or caused to be taken any property out of this state to avoid taxation. (Sec. 137.360 R.S.Mo)”

“Did Russ Carnahan break the law when he signed a legal document declaring that he was not avoiding Missouri personal property taxes—when he actually was?” asked Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “While Missourians struggle to stay afloat financially and are pinching pennies to make sure they can support their families and pay their fair share of taxes, Carnahan is skirting the law and not paying his fair share.  Residents of the 3^rd District are still awaiting a truthful explanation about his evasion of Missouri taxes.”

# # #

A recent episode detailed “yacht [...]]]> “Donnybrook” is a television show, run on local public station KETC channel 9.  Panelists focus on local issues typically engaging in a spirited back and forth among local media figures.  Anyone who loves St. Louis will become an instant fan (one of the legendary panelists Martin Duggan has endorsed my candidacy).

A recent episode detailed “yacht gate”, a controversy involving Russ Carnahan and his decision to berth his luxury yacht across the river in Alton (follow the link below – the segment starts at about 22 minutes).  While Alton may provide the preferred amenities for caring for his yacht, it has the added benefit of allowing our Congressman to avoid personal property taxes.

Having St. Louis’s favorite media curmudgeon Bill McClellan acknowledge that my objections to Carnahan’s decision have a point is something of a rush. I would like to expand on the theme Mr. McClellan and others began.  I would also like to rebut the charge that this is “absurd” and “meaningless” or that this is just a political story.

It is both a political story and a big deal.  Russ Carnahan has voted for every major tax increase to cross his desk.  Cap and trade, and increase in estate taxes, the taxes and fees contained in Obamacare are just a few.  Does anyone think Russ Carnahan will vote to block a value added tax?

Therefore, one can logically conclude that Carnahan thinks Americans are just not paying enough in taxes.  It follows then that since Russ Carnahan is an American, he would think he is not taxed enough either.

That’s not how he lives.

Russ Carnahan has structured his boat ownership in such a way as to avoid paying taxes.  I certainly don’t begrudge a man a tax break, but from a congressman who clearly thinks Americans need to pay more taxes it demonstrates an stunning myopia.  Not only does it look bad (imagine the fun his campaign would have if I had my Ford truck registered in Belleville to avoid taxes) it shows that Carnahan has at best addled thinking when it comes taxation.  He either thinks he owes too little and ought to pony up, or he thinks we are taxed enough and ought to resist new taxes.

The more likely explanation is that Russ Carnahan simply does what speaker Pelosi asks of him, without thinking too much about it.  His own health care benefits – and that of his staff – are threatened by Obamacare.  Does this sound like a man who is carefully considering the impact of legislation?  Like all of us, he wants to minimize his tax bill because he thinks he pays enough already.  Unfortunately for us, the perks and power that come from being Nancy Pelosi’s “low maintenance” congressman matter more than protecting his constituents from job-killing tax burdens.  In all due respect to Ray Hartman, the care and thoughtfulness Russ Carnahan puts into his decision making about issues like taxation are at the very core of governance.

Russ Carnahan lives as if we are taxed enough, but votes as if he is not.  I think the way he lives is the correct position, I just wish he’d vote that way.

That’s how I will vote as your congressman.  I will not raise your taxes.

April 22 Donnybrook

Anchors Away on Dodging Taxes

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) April 22, 2010 – Congressman Carnahan has yet to admit he is dodging taxes but does finally acknowledge Illinois, where he docks his boat, does not require property taxes. Carnahan’s office released the following to the St. Louis Beacon: “A) Missouri [...]]]> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Theresa Petry, (314) 807-7077

Anchors Away on Dodging Taxes

(ST. LOUIS, MO.) April 22, 2010 – Congressman Carnahan has yet to admit he is dodging taxes but does finally acknowledge Illinois, where he docks his boat, does not require property taxes. Carnahan’s office released the following to the St. Louis Beacon: “A) Missouri law requires that property tax on a boat be paid where it is moored; B) Illinois doesn’t have property taxes on boats and no registration is required if it is not operable.” (St. Louis Beacon, Jo Mannies, April 21, 2010) Apparently Rep. Carnahan didn’t read the Illinois registration requirements because it appears he is in clear violation of Illinois law. “According to the state Conservation Police, the boat is not registered in Illinois, either, which is required for vessels in state waters for two months out of the year.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jake Wagman, April 21, 2010.)

The following was taken directly from the top of the Illinois boat registration form. “ALL watercraft (other than sailboards) must be registered and titled except a watercraft that is non-powered, owned and operated on water completely impounded on land belonging to the owner of the watercraft. This does not apply to water controlled by a club or association.” Unless his 42-foot yacht is a canoe and Rep. Carnahan claims to own the Mississippi River and Alton Marina it seems he is in violation – regardless of whether his boat is running or docked. Carnahan was quick to point out he co-owns the 42-foot yacht with his wife and St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed. While Carnahan may be looking for a scapegoat; the boat has a motor, working or not, and neither of them own the marina or the Mississippi River either. The Handbook of Illinois Boating Law and Responsibilities states boats would be exempt from state registration if; “Vessels (are) documented with the U.S. Coast Guard and using Illinois waters for less than 60 consecutive days.” Since Carnahan’s Coast Guard certification expired in 2008 and his yacht is using Illinois waters; according to Illinois law it must be registered in the state.

As for Carnahan’s third excuse given to the media, “C) They called Hoppies Marina, and were told that it didn’t have the equipment to tow the boat (from Alton) and had no room to store it.” (St. Louis Beacon, Jo Mannies, April 21, 2010)

In a similar call to Hoppies Marina we were told they could in fact make room for a 42-ft boat. While the marina may not have “equipment to tow the boat” Carnahan could rent a trailer or maybe he should have just made better decisions regarding where he docked his boat before it became “inoperable.” Why doesn’t he try Harbor Point Yacht Club and Marina in West Alton? It is in Missouri and still closer to his home than Alton, IL. Word is he used to dock his boat in St. Charles. Why move it out of the state?

And if, as Carnahan claims, it “hasn’t been operable for more than a year” (unregistered for 18 months) then maybe he shouldn’t continue to leave it in the water at the Alton Marina. For a covered slip the Alton Marina, charges $4,675 a year. But we’re sure he has a “good” explanation for that too. What he can’t explain is the clear violation of law and why he’s dodging taxes.

For more information about Martin’s background and the campaign, visit EdMartinforCongress.com, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ed4congress.

Theresa Petry
Press Secretary
“Ed Martin for Congress”
(314) 807-7077 (cell)

theresa.petry@edmartinforcongress.com
www.edmartinforcongress.com

“It’s moored in Alton, the aides add, because that’s the closest harbor to the city of St. Louis, where both officials’ families reside. The closest one in Missouri for a pleasure boat is in St. Charles County, too far away for two urban families [...]]]> Missouri Congressman Carnahan gave the following excuse for docking his yacht in Illinois.

“It’s moored in Alton, the aides add, because that’s the closest harbor to the city of St. Louis, where both officials’ families reside. The closest one in Missouri for a pleasure boat is in St. Charles County, too far away for two urban families who both live in the city close to the Mississippi River, the congressman’s staff says.” (St. Louis Beacon, Jo Mannies, April 20, 2010)

It appears that Congressman Carnahan reads maps as thoroughly as he read the health care bill.  Check out the distances noted in the map below.

I call baloney.  I don’t believe that berthing his yacht in Illinois is just a convenience issue.  If the Missouri Department of Revenue has been paid its due, then a simple slip of paper showing taxes paid – like the one you and I have to show to get license plates – would put that part of the controversy to rest.

This issue matters because Congressman Carnahan votes for laws that we are obliged to follow. Too many politicians conduct themselves as if these minor laws are for the little people. Maybe if those among us with means – especially those who vote for increased taxes – were less creative about avoiding taxes those tax hikes would not be needed.