Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey takes special federal "sit on your ass" tax break for state legislators

[doeriver]

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey takes special federal "sit on your ass" tax break tied to legislators' per diem;
withholds release of requested IRS supplemental schedules and forms of to the Tennessee Newspaper Network
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091213/NEWS0206/912130365/-1/NLETTER01?source=nletter-news



Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, R-Bristol

Internal Revenue Service Code, Section 162(h), is a special provision of the U.S. federal tax code that enriches Tennessee and other state legislators by allowing them to deduct an amount equal to the per diem (per day) rate as established by the Tennessee General Assembly - Ramsey is taking the Section 162(h) deduction per federal law that allowed the Lt. Governor to deduct $185 per day from his reported 2008 total income of $259,320 (during 2008 tax year; higher in previously reported tax years), even on the days when the Tennessee Senate is not working (i.e.: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; $1,295 per week):

"...Basically, the somewhat complex provision allows legislators to claim a daily expenses deduction while the legislature is in session. It is set at the rate of the daily "per diem" expense allowance paid to legislators by the state, currently $185 per day — up from $171 in 2008 and $161 in 2007.

But while the state pays "per diem" to legislators only on days when they are actually at work, the IRS provision allows them to also claim deductions for days when they are not working, according to the 2008 Tennessee Legislators' Tax Guide, provided to lawmakers by the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Thus, for a typical in-session week, in the coming year legislators will be paid a $185 per diem for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday while meetings are in progress. But they can also claim a tax deduction of $185 per day for Friday, Saturday and Sunday when the legislature is not meeting.

...

Inquiries to several legislators last week indicated that many do take advantage of the tax break, including Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who is running for governor as a Republican. Ramsey did not provide copies of his "Schedule A" deductions for a Dec. 6 story on Republican candidate disclosures, but he acknowledged using the deduction — based on his accountant's advice — when asked about it.

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey's 2008 U.S. federal income tax form as released to the Tennessee Newspaper Network
http://web.knoxnews.com/pdf/2009/120609tn-gov-ramsey.pdf

[doeriver]

1. But do his GOPer teabagger buddies know about Ramsey enjoying this special tax break?

I am now wondering if Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey has ever informed his GOP teabagging buddies about his special IRS Section 162(h)"sit on your ass" state legislator tax break...?