Aug 06 2007

NewTimesLive

Danbury, Connecticut

Liens on elderly would be mistake (letter to the editor)

It seems Kevin Cleary, Bethel Board of Finance chairman, is proposing a tax lien be put on the property of the elderly who receive a tax break on the real estate they own.

I can see it now, as the elderly deceased person is being lowered into the ground, Mr. Cleary is handing a back tax bill to the survivors.

Mr. Cleary should be thinking about a tax freeze for all taxpayers over 70 or having taxpayers 65 and older not pay any portion of the school budget. People of this age thought Social Security would be enough to live off in retirement. Give them a break!

Being a Democrat, he is in the tax-raising mode. If you can't tax them while alive, tax them in their grave. They should write that on their political signs.

Young and old should make their annoyance known to Mr. Cleary. Don't sit back and see taxation after death.

Tom Peters
BETHEL

See full article: http://www.newstimeslive.com/opinion/letters.php?id=1060688&source=tabbox

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The only thing certain in Death is Taxes.

It is not clear to me what this tax is about.

Many communities give a tax break to seniors, usually about 10%. It is the intent of this tax to recapture the tax break that was given; similar to recapturing depreciation? This is not justified.

If this was a tax lien to be attached for non payment of taxes or other monies due, then it would be justified.

However, this is a tax recapture. What a joke!

But, in this society, with no real sense of constitutional boundries, some people see no problem with removing a legal tax deduction and then reclaiming the back tax. This is the ultimate in "living Constitution" manipulation. This is the phylosophy that our Constitution has no limits to its elasticity and must conform to current feelings, versus Jefferson's and Madison's ideas, to severly limit our legislators ability to make law "by the chains of a Constitution."

Please look up "Ex Post Facto" law. Generally speaking, ex post facto laws are seen as a violation of the rule of law as it applies in a free and democratic society. See Article 1, Section 9 - US Constitution. It says "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed."

Try to take it with you -

Mitchell Goldstein - Coach Mitch

518-439-6100 until midnight EST