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The 7 Stages of Getting Caught in State Government
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It has been interesting
reading about the events that came to light in the news over the past week about constitutional officers and state employees that do not pay taxes on the
personal use of their state issued vehicles. In fact, as each offender was approached and questioned, they all reacted with the
response I call:
The Seven Stages of Getting Caught in State Government
1) First there was
total denial
2) Then there was partial admission accompanied by blame
3) Next was arrogant
justification
4) Followed by regret
5) Then the heart-felt apology
6) Moving on to
asking for forgiveness
7) And finally, being forced to do the right and legal
thing.
I've heard these same 7 stages since I was first elected to office. In Pulaski County, the former chief administrator Ron Quillan used this pattern when I asked questions that ultimately led to him being convicted of a crime for stealing money from taxpayers. The elected county officials across Arkansas who were double-dipping didn't deviate from the 7 steps and now, some of our state constitutional officers have followed the same pattern.
Each one professed to be
following the advice of their accountants (step 2 of the 7 steps above), which brings up another question; do
we really have that many bad accountants giving poor advice? I have operated a business for many years and my
accountant has always made absolutely sure that I paid taxes on the personal
use of my company owned vehicle. This regulation is not new. It has
been a standard in the tax code for decades.
These are the state's highest
ranking government officials, yet there seems to be an attitude of entitlement
they associate with these positions (step 3 of the 7 steps above). Instead, because of their positions, their
attitude should be one of leading by example and humble servitude.
I am reminded of one of my
favorite songs from my teenage years back in 1973 sung by the Edgar Winter
Group titled "Free Ride". I am pretty sure that the writer Dan Hartman did not
have elected officials getting free, state vehicle use in mind when he wrote
this song, but it fits the situation today pretty well.
State treasurer Martha Shoffner was quoted in the paper as saying "It was just more than I thought I
could pay. I thought, "I can't pay it", I just saw this as another tax." "I
thought how can I pay this?"
So if our elected officials -- especially the Treasurer of the State of Arkansas -- don't like to pay
taxes, how is it that every time the legislature is in session those same officials don't seem to have a problem with taxes being raised for everyone else? Maybe if elected officials are forced to play by the same rules as and pay the same taxes that average Arkansan's have to pay, they will think twice before
voting to raise new taxes and fees and maybe then they will realize there is "no free ride." (links to a clip of the song)
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As always, please contact me if I can be of additional service to you. If you have specific questions about state government, please send me an e-mail to let me know.
State Representative Allen Kerr
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