Rob ANDREWS

Democrat for US Sentate

ANDREWS SAYS RECORDS WILL SHOW LAUTENBERG CLAIMED D.C. AS HOME
Demands Public Release of Tax Documents
Says Senator Knowingly Filed for Washington Property Tax Rebates

CHERRY HILL -- Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rob Andrews' campaign formally requested the District of Columbia today to release public documents that it says will show that Sen. Frank Lautenberg knowingly claimed Washington D.C. – not New Jersey - as his primary residence over the last several years.

The documents will demonstrate that Lautenberg signed government forms to declare a property tax rebate after his election in 2002 that could not have been granted unless he certified that his primary residence was Washington D.C.

Anyone applying for the property-tax rebate must check "Yes" to indicate that the District of Columbia is the applicant's primary residence. The applicant must also sign an affidavit acknowledging that any false claims would result in criminal penalties. (See attached D.C. Application Form.)

Published reports and the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue say it is impossible to receive the Homestead Deduction unless an application is completed. "That is to say, affirmative action must be taken on behalf of the property owner in order to qualify for and receive the Homestead deduction," said a letter from the Andrews campaign attorney to the District of Columbia requesting the documents under the Freedom of Information Act. "Mr. Lautenberg has acknowledged receiving the Homestead deduction for the years 2003 to 2005, and yet he has denied completing the application required to receive it."

The campaign said it would take all legal action necessary to compel the release of the documents, which include: the property-tax deduction applications filed on Lautenberg's behalf from 2003 to the present; and the tax records indicating that Lautenberg either reimbursed the District of Columbia or owes the district back taxes as a consequence of being improperly granted the deduction.

"We believe that Senator Lautenberg knew exactly what he was doing in filing for the property-tax deduction in Washington," said Mike Murphy, chairman of the Andrews Senate campaign. "By claming Washington D.C. as his primary residence, Frank Lautenberg would not even have been eligible to vote in New Jersey, let alone serve as its U.S. Senator."
 

Paid for by Andrews for Senate.