The Defenders

ECM Publishing (publishers of numerous small local newspapers) interviewed several DFL Legislators who are coming to the defense of Al Franken, in light of his current financial troubles. All of the legislators interviewed (including Eagan's Sandy Masin and Apple Valley's Shelly Madore) have endorsed Al Franken for the DFL nomination for US Senate.

Revelations concerning DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken’s taxes has not shaken the support of local lawmakers who have endorsed the comedian.

Indeed, several lawmakers point to a perceived quickness on Franken’s part in dealing with the tax flap as evidence of a take-the-bull-by-the-horns mentality desirable in a public official.

It’s always a big deal politically when the unpaid taxes issue crops up for a candidate., said Rep. Shelley Madore, DFL-Apple Valley. “It’s unfortunate that this wasn’t vetted out before (by his campaign),” said Madore.

“But now that it’s been vetted out — he took responsibility quickly, didn’t hide behind the, ‘I didn’t understand,’” she said. “I still believe that he’s a truthful, honest person and that was an oversight,” she said.

Quickness? Taking the "bull by the horns"? This story has been flying around the internet of over a month and in the local media for weeks! The excuses have changed daily (as well documented in the Star Tribune). If the way that the Franken campaign handled this is there idea of "quick", I certainly hate to see what a slow reaction would be.

While he may not have hidden behind the "I didn't understand" excuse he DID hide behind the "it's the accountant's fault" excuse. However, if you talk to an accountant, Ms. Madore, you will find that is not exactly a vaild excuse (HT who else but the expert on this story).

The divvying up of tax payments based on where you've worked is called apportionment, and while accountant Michael Shaffer says it can be complex to calculate, it's not exactly an obscure accounting principle.

"I learned it in my first tax class in college" he says.

In other words, it isn't exactly a "rookie mistake" and it is something that someone should tell Sen. Don Betzold (DFL Fridley)

Sen. Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley, isn’t mulling over his endorsement of Franken. “No. I think he’s a good candidate,” said Betzold.

If Franken’s accountant made mistakes — Franken signed-off on the taxes, true — but then Franken shouldn’t be held completely responsible, he opined.

The "experts" have a differing opinion Senator...Speaking of Fridley, Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL-Fridley) weighed in with this:

Rep. Tom Tillberry, DFL-Fridley, also opined Franken reacted quickly to the tax issue.

Tillberry views Franken as moving ahead politically undamaged. “I mean, if he is — if people think that — I can’t agree with them,” he said. “What it points out to me is how well someone can take care of problems when they come up,” said Tillberry.

“If a person steps up and says, ‘This is my fault this is happening and I’m going to take care of it,’ isn’t that the type of integrity we want,” he rhetorically asked.

One minor problem to that theory Rep. Tillberry....Franken DIDN'T DO THAT. He didn't take responsibility - he blamed it on his accountant! Because he did not react quickly, honestly and decisively he is damaged goods. People much smarter and less partisan that I and who get paid to do this for a living have said so.

However, I am going to take Senator Betzold's advise and "move on" to talking about the issues. Important issues like TAXES....those pesky little things that Democrats like to raise, but some (like Franken) don't seem to want to pay. Gary Gross put up a post last June that is still instructional today. It is about the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's rating of our legislators based on the legislators votes on tax issues. Senator Betzold voted 6 times last year to make our state tax system MORE COMPLICATED by raising taxes. Reps. Masin, Madore and Tillberry all voted for 11 of the 12 tax increases that were put before the House in 2007. Then there is the debacle that is the Transportation Bill of 2008 which the ALL voted for (and all voted to over-ride the Governor's veto).

I have no problem with these legislators sticking by their "guy". I find it admirable actually. However, their defense of Franken (along with their voting records) do give us insight into their "Happy to pay for a better Minnesota" mindset. It tells us that they are happier to have YOU pay your fair share if you are a wealthy entertainer or middle class Minnesotan. However, if one of theirs isn't so happy to pay...well it's no big deal...even when they get caught.