Al Franken: Cheating on Taxes?

The Strib:

Al Franken’s career as an entertainer made him famous and rich and positioned him to run for the U.S. Senate.

But now, just as he appears on the verge of securing the DFL endorsement to take on Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, Franken could be tripped up by missteps in the way his show business enterprise was run.

Republicans, who for more than a year have eagerly unearthed controversial tidbits from Franken’s comedy routines and books, have in recent weeks discovered several slip-ups in the celebrity’s business life. On Thursday, they claimed to have found another possible irregularity, a charge that has yet to be resolved.

On Friday, Franken’s campaign manager, Andy Barr, declined to say whether Franken had paid taxes on earnings in California between 2003 and 2007.

He said Franken’s accountant is working with California officials to sort things out.

Yeah, I can just imagine the conversation on THAT little gem. I’m willing to bet the smirk was gone.

But it’s gotten even better… he’s not been paying his workman’s comp, either.

The latest Republican charge that Franken’s taxes there have gone unpaid comes in the wake of earlier disclosures that Franken failed to pay workers’ compensation and disability premiums in New York and botched the dissolution of his California corporation.

Since then, Franken has paid more than $25,000 in fines to New York and still owes more than $4,700 in corporate taxes and fines to California.

Well, as I see it, he has two choices; He can either get out of politics… or he can start making like he’s a libertarian. The drawback there is I don’t think the Libertarians will have the slime.

You made your bed, Al, in two ways… How did you think all those giveaways you’ve been insisting on, all those government programs, were paid for, except by your taxes, buddy?  And of course you thought yourself better than the rest of us.

All I can say is, enjoy it, Al. You deserve it.