House Democrat lives in Maryland, represents California

Pet Stark (D-Calif.) represents California’s 13th district including most of the west side of San Francisco Bay from the Alemeda/Oakland area south. But that does not mean he claims the Golden State his home. Tax records indicate his primary residence is in Maryland.

This may be perfectly legal, but what kind of system do we have where politicians need to spend so little time in their home districts that they no longer even have a home there?

By listing his primary residence in Maryland, Stark pays lower income taxes on his congressional salary of $174,000. The California income tax – which is not graduated – is 9.3 percent. Maryland’s income tax is about 6.25 percent, which saves Stark 3 percent right off the bat.

Maryland also dings non-residents an additional 1.25 percent, and if you consider that property taxes and living expenses are higher in the Bay area as compared to his “six acre waterfront estate” in Maryland, Stark is able to reduce costs and keep more of his own salary. (Really it’s our money but…)

Although residing in Maryland, Stark and his wife retain an address at his in-law’s home in San Lorenzo so he can vote in California. I wonder if his bedroom has it’s own private bath…

In effect, Stark has outsourced his home and living expenses to another state to save money. I say good for him. As long as the residents of California’s 13th don’t mind the fact he does not actually live in the area he represents, why not?

What do you call a reverse carpetbagger?

Stark is in his 19th term, which equates to more than 36 years working for places like Oakland in the nations capital. Will district residents continue to support Stark as long as he brings home the bacon?

The LA Times is reporting this as another Democrat tax scandal, referencing a piece at Bloomberg News…

A senior member of the U.S. House’s tax-writing Ways and Means Committee from California has been taking advantage of a tax break for a home in Maryland that he claims as his principal residence.

Representative Pete Stark, the second-ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means panel, in 2007 and 2008 saved a total of $3,853 in state and Anne Arundel County taxes on a Maryland waterfront home that he claims as his primary residence, according to Maryland tax disclosures.

Maryland officials, contacted by a Bloomberg reporter about the tax break Stark received, said they plan to look into his eligibility for it.

Homeowners in Maryland qualify for the tax credit for residences they use “for the legal purposes of voting, obtaining a driver’s license, and filing income tax returns,” according to the Maryland Assessment Procedures Manual.

Stark, 77, confirmed in a telephone interview last week that he and his wife, Deborah, are registered to vote in California’s 13th congressional district using the address of her parents in San Lorenzo, about 25 miles southeast of San Francisco. Stark also said both he and his wife have California driver’s licenses.

LGF is reporting another Democrat in trouble. No statement from Stark on his House Web site. Monitor Google’s news search to see if this becomes a bigger issue.

Since the Bloomberg story was published on March 19, I’m wondering if he took any questions about the subject at the town hall meeting scheduled March 21 (Saturday) in Alemeda?

I wonder if he spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express?