Beyond Satire
From the TaxProf:
President Obama today issued a presidential memorandum directing the Office of Management and Budget, the Treasury Department, and other federal agencies to block contractors who are delinquent on their taxes from receiving new government contracts. The memorandum also directs the IRS to review the accuracy of companies' tax delinquency claims and asks Congress to enact enforecement tools.
This administration continues to follow the consistent principle that taxes should be applied ruthlessly to out-of-favor and unsympathetic groups, and forgiven or exempted for friends of the Administration. Does anyone else find it odd that our first black President is doing so much to undermine the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment?
MJ:
I don't think it's odd. Black, white or otherwise, he's first and foremost a politician.
January 20, 2010, 9:45 pmAndrew:
I think it's more ironic than odd.
January 21, 2010, 5:59 amGreg:
Unless contractors that don't pay their taxes are disproportionately one race, religion, nationality or sex, with the intent to discriminate on that basis, this doesn't violate the 14th amendment. It's a pretty rational idea to not do business with people who don't pay you what you're owed. Not to say that other tax breaks for friends of the administration aren't a violation...
January 21, 2010, 6:55 amHenry Bowman:
Does this mean that the U.S. Treasury Secretary needs to start looking for a new job?
January 21, 2010, 7:23 amkebko:
Thanks, Henry. Now I have to clean coffee spray off my keyboard.
January 21, 2010, 8:43 amMethinks:
Our first black president who rose out of community organizing and no real world experience in anything else practicing identity politics? Well, who would have thunk it? Colour me extra surprised.
January 21, 2010, 9:21 amM L:
When they apply the same scrutiny to "non-profits" like unions and ACORN, then I'll be surprised.
January 21, 2010, 11:23 amJeff:
Only little people pay taxes....
January 21, 2010, 11:28 amIgotBupkis:
> I don’t think it’s odd. Black, white or otherwise, he’s first and foremost a politician.
Is that code for "thieving son of a bitch"?
January 21, 2010, 12:56 pmMJ:
Does this mean that the federal government can stop doing business with GM? Taxes or not, the CBO has all but assured us that the money we lent them is not coming back. Another round of Cash for Clunkers, anyone?
January 21, 2010, 1:59 pm