By Jay Sekulow
The left's outrage over the IRS turns to a plea to 'move on'
The D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue is demanding $2,338 in back property taxes, interest and penalties from Rep. Nick J. Rahall II, who wrongly claimed a homestead tax deduction on his Capitol Hill townhouse reserved for D.C. homeowners who claim their property as their "principal residence."
Rep. Nick J. Rahall II is the only lawmaker among 107 in Congress who own property in the District to claim a homestead deduction, taking advantage of a tax deduction reserved for D.C. homeowners who claim their D.C. property as their "principal residence," tax records show.
The bloom was off the rose for Democrats as their convention kicked off in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday. The attempt to recapture the magic of the 2008 election is faltering as party faithful are running away from the incumbent candidate, President Obama, to preserve their own political careers.
For a West Virginia Democrat these days, balancing the demands of local and national party politics can induce ideological schizophrenia.
House and Senate negotiators met Tuesday for the first time to hammer out a massive new long-term spending bill to keep federal highway, rail and transit programs running.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin urged West Virginians to observe a moment of silence Thursday, starting at 3:01 p.m., to mark the second anniversary of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster and the deaths of 29 men.
Two members of Congress have asked the Transportation Department for "the first full federal audit" of the organization that manages Union Station, as major redevelopment at the historical site gets under way.
Embracing legislation that nearly derailed the health care law last year, the House approved tougher restrictions on federally funded abortions in a move that pleased the GOP's pro-life base but met vigorous opposition from President Obama and Senate Democrats.
Four million visitors annually flock to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to view such priceless national treasures as the top hat Abraham Lincoln wore the night of his assassination and a military uniform donned by George Washington.
Mr. Rahall initially said during a telephone interview in October that he did not know if he had claimed the homestead deduction on the D.C. townhouse, telling a reporter to check with his accountant but hanging up before giving the accountant's name.
Reached at his home in Beckley, W.Va., Mr. Rahall said he didn't know "if I have it or not" when asked about the deduction.
