Oregon Republican candidate for governor Chris Dudley is embroiled in a tax evasion scandal that threatens to derail his 2010 election campaign. The Oregonian and other news outlets are reporting Dudley misrepresented his legal residence to avoid paying thousands of dollars in Oregon taxes.
The story was bad enough when it was revealed that Dudley had relocated to Camas, Washington in order to avoid Oregon taxes. Now it seems Dudley's supposed move was simply a deception to cheat the Oregon tax man.
Dudley has said that, while playing center for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1990s, he moved from Portland's Forest Heights neighborhood to Camas to avoid paying Oregon taxes on all of his income. Washington doesn't have an income tax.
He did have to pay Oregon income tax on his basketball salary. His campaign estimates Dudley's Oregon income tax bill came to about $463,000 between 1993 and 1997, when he played for the Blazers.
By claiming Washington residency, Dudley -- who was already earning a National Basketball Association salary before coming to Portland -- could shield any other income from Oregon income taxes, such as capital gains, investments and endorsement deals.
Interviews with people in Dudley's former neighborhood and public records show that Dudley did not stop using his Portland home to the extent needed to claim he was no longer an Oregon resident for tax purposes.
In short, Dudley cheated on his Oregon taxes. Dudley was pretending to live in Washington to avoid paying taxes that support Oregon schools and Oregon health care. Oregon can do better. Oregon deserves better. Oregon should not elect a tax cheat Governor.
Comments
In fairness, out of state taxpayers do pay Oregon state tax on income earned from this state. When playing for the Trailblazers, therefore, he would have paid Oregon state tax on earnings therefrom. What he would have avoided would have been Oregon taxation on dividends and interest earned on investments.
Mikey sure likes taxes, they are sacred to him. It is important to Mikey that other people pay taxes, especially successful people. Successful people are evil so they should pay lots of taxes to atone for their evilness. Mikey loves taxes, taxes, taxes, the evil people must pay taxes, especially evil Republicans need to pay taxes. Rich people must pay taxes, lots and lots of taxes.
Leave it Republicans to try to make tax evasion a virtue.
The writer has convicted Dudley before the investigation is completed. This is how liberal "report" these items.
The writer has convicted Dudley before the investigation is completed. This is how liberal "report" these items.
and it went both ways! He kept his car and jetskis registered in Oregon to avoid the steeper fees for those in Washington.
Dudley Do Wrong belongs on the bench... again.
Sure would be nice if the "pro-life" Oregon GOP would endorse a Pro-Life candidate like Greg Kord, who is all about sovereignty's protection over life/liberty/property freedoms. http://gregkord.com
Reestablishing Oregon's domestic tranquility will enable Oregon to restore its economy so she can, once again, fulfill the profound significance of her state motto.
So just what did Chris Dudley do that was wrong? Tax avoidance is not illegal or bad, tax evasion is something different. Chris Dudley followed the law to avoid taxes.
John Kerry did the same thing by keeping his yacht in Rhode Island instead of his own state in order to avoid taxes.
This is not about Dudley it is about Democrats fear of losing control of Oregon!!
Don't you think the feds and state taxmen would crush anyone who does not pay up?
Kitz (strange name) is washed up and why do the Demos continue to send the same old Dr. NO!!!
New ideas and a new crew in Salem will energize Oregon and take us into the future for our children by
job creation and new opportunities. Demo cranks just can't let go. See you in November!!
Who wants a governor who thinks it is fun and a virtue to pay taxes, lots of taxes?
Who wants a governor who thinks it is OK to legally avoid taxes in order to hang on to as much of the money you earned as possible?
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