Franken launches "green" Senate campaign swing in Faribault

posted by Edward Felker, P-B Washington Bureau

DFL Senate candidate  Al Franken, who hopes to knock off incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., this fall, was to kick off an Earth Day-themed  "Green Jobs" campaign swing today in Faribault. The weeklong tour, featuring Al in his hybrid Ford SUV, was to feature stops for meetings and roundtable events in Faribault, Zimmerman, and locations in the Twin Ciites, his campaign said in an announcement.

Earth Day is tomorrow, April 22. Franken is to talk about his support for a carbon  cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions 80 percent by 2050, the scaling back of tax incentives to oil producers, and increased government spending on research and development of renewable fuels, transit, and so-called "green buildings."

Comments

[OdaSilva]

Still no Political Party blog posts on Franken's worker's comp debacle. Why not?

[BornHere]

How about this? Because it is a NON-issue!

[OdaSilva]

Franken is a millionaire who pretends to be a man of the people. Those who listen to his lies need to know that he chose to cheat those who worked for him out of their worker's compensantion.

[OdaSilva]

From today's Strib:

"The latest questions about the personal corporation Franken set up to handle his entertainment enterprises came in the wake of news last week that Franken owes California $5,800 in back taxes and penalties for failing to file state income tax returns for the corporation from 2003 to 2007."

And,

"The campaign explained that no returns were filed because Franken hadn't done business in the state since 2003, and that the accountant was unaware that the corporation, Al Franken Inc. (AFI), had to be formally dissolved.

"But Republicans now say Franken has in fact done business in California on many occasions. Using the Internet and information programs such as Lexis Nexis, party researchers found 32 public appearances that Franken made in California from 2003 to 2007, at least eight of which charged an admission fee. For instance, Franken spoke at universities, addressed the Urban Land Institute and debated conservative pundit Ann Coulter for a lecture series."

Plus,

"Theresa Gray, a spokesperson for California's state Franchise Tax Board in Sacramento, said she could not confirm details of Franken's earnings in California for the years in question. Gray said Franken still owes more than $4,743.40 in corporate taxes, fines and penalties for the years between 2003 and 2007, when he failed to file corporate tax returns."

More,

[GOP Party Chairman Ron] Carey said he is skeptical that Franken has paid personal income taxes in California. He said Franken could resolve the issue by releasing his California income tax returns.

"The chance of that happening is one in a thousand, maybe," Carey said. "But why would he run everything through his personal accountant when AFI was set up to handle these kinds of transactions?"

Finally,

"Last month, Franken paid a $25,000 penalty to New York state for failure to pay workers' compensation insurance while an employer from 2002 to 2005. Franken, who said he never received the dozen-plus notices from New York in part because he had recently moved to Minnesota, paid the penalty and an $833 fine for failing to pay disability insurance."

Franken is not only a liar,liar, he is also a tax cheat, cheat.

[BornHere]

OdaSilva: are you talking to yourself again? Haven't you noticed the echo, echo in whatever empty space you are coming from?

[OdaSilva]

Al Franken's hypocrisy echoes loud and clear. The intellectually honest hear and distrust what the former comedian says.

[OdaSilva]

From today's Strib:

Franken pays $70,000 in back taxes and penalties in 17 states

By Patricia Lopez and Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune

"Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken, front-runner in the race to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, said on Tuesday that he has paid $70,000 in back taxes and penalties owed in 17 states going back to 2003.

"Franken, who delivers speeches across the country and still receives residuals from television shows, movies and books, blamed his accountant of 18 years for what he said was a mistake.

"The accountant, Allen Chanzis of New York, "just made a basic kind of error that had a lot of ramifications," Franken said.

"Franken said he paid federal and state taxes on all of his income, but failed to distribute the payments to each of the states where he had income.

"Franken said that despite being incorporated in three states -- New York, California and Minnesota -- his company, Alan Franken Inc., was structured in such a way that it had no corporate income tax liability.

"Instead, he said, he paid taxes through the individual income tax.

"Franken said he would not release his personal income tax returns but noted that he paid $917,344 in state and city taxes between 2003 and 2006 when he should have paid $921,495. Franken said he has filed for an extension on his 2007 taxes."

Excuses, excuses. The only reason Franken paid up was that Republicans uncovered his tax shenanigans. The unfunny comedian should be a man and not blame his accountant for the tax fraud it seems he attempted to perpetrate. Kudos to the state party for unmasking Franken and showing Minnesota what a liberal millionaire hypocrite he truly is. This is a situation that will most likely endear Franken to his supporters, though. I doubt they will abandon him, which says something about their own character or lack thereof.

Wake up, libs. There is a pattern here. Remember he failed to pay workers' compensation and disability premiums for his New York employees. Franken defrauded the "little people" pseudo-progressives say they champion.

[OdaSilva]

Here's a little something from The Hill (available at http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/state-by-state-2008-05-05.html) while we wait for the Political Party bloggers to catch up on Franken's troubles:

"Minnesota

A new SurveyUSA poll shows voters are turned off by Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken’s recent tax problems.

The 500-person survey showed 59 percent of people say Franken’s tax issues make them less likely to vote for him. Franken failed to pay for workers’ compensation insurance for his personal corporation and to pay income tax in 17 states since 2003.

Just 31 percent said the problems made no difference.

More than half, 51 percent, said Franken should withdraw from the race, while 38 percent said he should stay in.

Another SurveyUSA poll of 700 adults showed Sen. Norm Coleman (R) reopening his lead over Franken, 52-42. Franken had narrowed the gap in recent months to near-even.

Franken had the support of 67 percent of Democrats, while Coleman received 99 percent of Republicans. Franken maintained a sizable edge among independents, though, 57-33.

Franken campaign manager Andy Barr said the campaign would rather ask whether voters “would be more or less likely to vote for Norm Coleman if they knew that he’d spent six years selling them out to help his special interest donor friends. My guess: less. But we’ll find out.”

Attorney Mike Ciresi, who dropped out of the Democratic race earlier this year, is weighing whether to get back in now that Franken’s campaign has stumbled.

— A.B.