December 30, 2009

Crisis in Georgia

A crisis has erupted in the Republican state government of Georgia. The speaker of the house, Glenn Richardson resigned amidst allegations of an affair with a lobbyist after attempting suicide by swallowing pills. Another lawmaker who could have potentially succeeded the speaker came under public scrutiny after the IRS launched investigations into legislation he crafted to save the governor thousands of dollars. And if those scandals were not enough, the state insurance commissioner John Oxendine (another potential candidate for governor) has been sued for using campaign contributors' funds for a trip to the Academy Awards.

One of the leading candidates to replace Richardson as speaker, Larry O'Neal the former lawyer for Governor Sonny Purdue, has admitted Wednesday that the IRS had investigated a $100,000 tax break given to his former boss over a 2004 Florida land deal. However, O'Neal declared subsequently that he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the investigations and that Governor Purdue was not charged with additional taxes.

The case involving insurance commissioner Oxendine has to do with a dispute his office was investigating between Dr. Jeffrey Gallups and the Indiana Life Insurance Company. Dr. Gallups is sueing the insurance company and the commissioner's office found the insurance company guilty of certain wrongdoings in this case. But this issue became complicated when Dr. Gallups allegedly forked out about $2,000 to pay for Oxendine and his wife's trip to the Oscars thus triggering allegations of biasness on the part of Oxendine's office.

The commissioner insists that he had not transgressed any law and that he had repaid all expenses by Gallups but declined to provide evidence of doing so. Naturally, the insurance company strongly disagreed with Oxendine's findings and is in the midst of evaluating the report on its market conduct.

Mysterious happenings of late suggest that all is not well with the GOP government. After Richardson resigned last month (his resignation takes effect Jan 1), his deputy, pro tem speaker Mark Burkhalter strangely disappeared 3 days later citing 'other career opportunities', declining the opportunity to succeed Richardson. And this despite expressing his willingness to do so earlier.

To add salt to the wound of the battered GOP, allegations of impropriety have also been hurled at some of those in the race for governor.

U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, a gubernatorial candidate, has become the subject of an inquiry by two congressional ethics panels after the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported a lucrative deal his company had with the state.

Another state rep, Mark Butler came under fire for allegedly expressed his opposition to the University of West Georgia for firing his girlfriend, Erin Henderson who was a lobbyist for the school. According to Danielle Tackett, secretary to the VP for university advancement, Michael Ruffner, Rep Butler had voiced his extreme displeasure at the action of the university towards Henderson but Butler has denied trying to influence the university, stating that his words were misunderstood.

These embarrassing scandals have given plenty of ammunition to Democrats to push for more stringent legislation to control the conduct of those in public office in Georgia.

Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for over a decade. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.

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