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Simmons Attacks Yzaguirre Tax Problems

 May 2, 2010 ⋅  Post a comment

The heat got turned up a notch in the Ada Commish primary race Sunday when Candidate Roger Simmons issued an “attack” press release citing past dirty laundry worn by Commish Rick Yzaguirre.

With regard to Yzaguirre’s private use of Idaho sales tax and other state revenues collected at a convenience store he owned, Simmons said: “I find it refreshing given Yzaguirre’s history of being less than forthcoming about his financial situation, that Rick has finally answered at least one question with absolute candor,” said Simmons.

“While many of his answers in the (STATESMAN) Voter Guide may be suspect, Yzaguirre was certainly forthright, when referring to the taxpayers, he said, ‘…I treat their money as my own.’ ”

The Republican primary election is May 25. We welcome any response from Yzaguirre.

The complete text of Simmons release follows.

TRUTH IN POLITICS

(Boise)—Ada County Commission Candidate Roger Simmons today complimented his opponent Rick Yzaguirre for being truthful in one of his answers on the Idaho Statesman’s Voter Guide.

“I find it refreshing given Yzaguirre’s history of being less than forthcoming about his financial situation, that Rick has finally answered at least one question with absolute candor,” said Simmons. “While many of his answers in the Voter Guide may be suspect, Yzaguirre was certainly forthright, when referring to the taxpayers, he said, ‘…I treat their money as my own.’ ”

In fact, several times in his career Yzaguirre has chosen to treat taxpayers’ money as his own. He did that to keep his personal businesses afloat. He used $60,000 in sales tax money he collected to pay his commercial vendors then later said, “It’s easy to blow off the tax commission.”

But the law says you’re not supposed to do that. The law says the moment sales tax money is collected that becomes state money…that, “Such money shall not, for any purpose, be considered to be a part of the proceeds of the sale.” In other words, it was never his money and Yzaguirre says he knew that but he added that it was easy to blow off the tax commission.

Yzaguirre also treated the taxpayers’ money as his own when, while Mayor of Eagle, he used Idaho Lottery and Fish & Game license fees for his own benefit, once again in violation of the law.

He also forced the county, the same one he is now making his living off of, to go after him for non-payment of property taxes. “This wasn’t a case of someone forgetting to pay sales tax money, or lottery fees, or Fish & Game license fees, or property taxes like other candidates who have been in the news lately,” said Simmons. “This is far more egregious. This is a case where a politician who makes his living off other peoples’ taxes openly admits to blowing agencies off. Politicians should be held to a higher standard than others because they are seeking the public’s trust.

“Apparently Yzaguirre considers the Tax Commission, the Department of Fish & Game, the Lottery and the County nebulous entities that have no connection to the public and aren’t handling the public’s money,” Simmons continued. “It would be laughable, given Yzaguirre’s answer to the Idaho Statesman Voter Guide, that he has this disconnect regarding taxpayers’ money. However, in reality, this is no laughing matter.”

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