House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans just added his name to the list of Pennsylvania solonians who started non-profits only to be involved in questionable transactions. According to the Pennsylvania Independent the non-profit bailed out friends and collegues of Evans in a failed nightclub to the tune of $700,000.00.
The Ogontz Avenue Rehabilitation Corp. (OARC) purchased North By Northwest, a Mount Airy nightspot, in March and it has remained closed since. In return, OARC received nothing tangible, not even a state liquor license, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
The initial costs borne by OARC included $400,000 in debt and $169,000 in back taxes on the property that had been leased by the North by Northwest partners. OARC was also saddled with $160,000 rent on the property until the lease expired in October.
Mr. Evans, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the situation to the Pennsylvania Independent. The woman did say Mr. Evans is not involved in OARC operations. His supporters, however, are.
The North by Northwest partners were Mr. Evans’ longtime protégé Ameenah Young, president of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and first recipient of the Dwight Evans Leadership Award given by OARC; prominent city lawyer Carl Singley and his wife, Rose; Ina Walker, CEO of the New Media Technology Charter School; and Philadelphia attorney Hugh Clark, president of that school.
The school is one of six city charter schools currently under federal investigation for possible misuse of funds and has received $500,000 in state taxpayer money. Mr. Clark and Ms. Walker have been asked to step down from their positions, but have refused to do so thus far.
Just last week SOP reported about Senator Argall's non-profit issue. Of course former Senator Vince Fumo's conviction forced the closing of his non-profit, Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, which was a central focus in his trial. Lest we not forget former Representative Michael Veon's trouble with Beaver For Initiative Growth, BIG, a non-profit agency created by Veon.
Should we have applauded Senator Mellow when he wanted to tax the non-profits?? Take it easy...just kidding.
AG Tom Corbett has a Handbook for Charitable Non-Profit Organizations online. One would think that one of these fine legislators would at least take the time to read the damn thing.
Showing posts with label nonprofits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nonprofits. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, September 21, 2009
Pennsylvania Politicians "Take Hit" Over Budget Process
One of Todd Eachus's famous statements in negotiating- "You've Gotta Take A Hit." According to Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the Pennsylvania budget deal has Fast Eddy Rendell and Pennsylvania legislators "taking a hit."
"Everyone's taken a hit in terms of public support," said Christopher Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. "There's enough dissatisfaction with the whole process and the handling of this budget that there's a lot of people wounded politically."
Rendell's "paid a very steep price," said Borick. "He doesn't have the same standing he once did."
Casinos, tax cheats, and public schools are among the winners under the budget agreement while smokers, theater patrons, businesses, and nonprofits running small games of chance are among the losers.
It is unbelieveable that one of the ways House Democrats and Senate Democrats and Republicans want to balance the budget is to tax non-profits that sell small games of chance. Raffles, small games of chance tickets, and punchboards will all be subject to a 20% tax. In addition the small games of chance license fee will increase from $100.00 to $200.00.
Legislation before the House and Senate would increase the prize limit for any one game from $500 to $1,000. The Senate bill would increase the weekly prize limit from $5,000 to $20,000; the House bill would increase the weekly limit to $25,000. The current prize limits were set in 1988 when small games were legalized
Legislative leaders initially estimated the state can obtain $100 million in new revenues annually from an expansion of small games. The state Revenue Department has made a lower revenue estimate ranging from $14 million to $35 million annually.
I guess they need the money to fund their double dipping with their per diem. Increasing the payout limit will only affect a portion of the non-profits. Many non-profits were not at the $5,000.00 limit presently allowed by law.
Do they realize that the tax to be collected went to take care of the less fortunate inlcuding children, families, veterans, and senior citizens? Volunteer fire companies and ambulances also rely on this type of income. They just taxed the poorest people to fund their lavish food fetish. Depending on which figure you believe anywhere from $14 million to $100 million in aid to those humans is now lost. This action should create the environment for the next tea party.
To be fair you should note that House Republicans were kept OUT of the deal and had no say in its creation.
"Everyone's taken a hit in terms of public support," said Christopher Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. "There's enough dissatisfaction with the whole process and the handling of this budget that there's a lot of people wounded politically."
Rendell's "paid a very steep price," said Borick. "He doesn't have the same standing he once did."
Casinos, tax cheats, and public schools are among the winners under the budget agreement while smokers, theater patrons, businesses, and nonprofits running small games of chance are among the losers.
It is unbelieveable that one of the ways House Democrats and Senate Democrats and Republicans want to balance the budget is to tax non-profits that sell small games of chance. Raffles, small games of chance tickets, and punchboards will all be subject to a 20% tax. In addition the small games of chance license fee will increase from $100.00 to $200.00.
Legislation before the House and Senate would increase the prize limit for any one game from $500 to $1,000. The Senate bill would increase the weekly prize limit from $5,000 to $20,000; the House bill would increase the weekly limit to $25,000. The current prize limits were set in 1988 when small games were legalized
Legislative leaders initially estimated the state can obtain $100 million in new revenues annually from an expansion of small games. The state Revenue Department has made a lower revenue estimate ranging from $14 million to $35 million annually.
I guess they need the money to fund their double dipping with their per diem. Increasing the payout limit will only affect a portion of the non-profits. Many non-profits were not at the $5,000.00 limit presently allowed by law.
Do they realize that the tax to be collected went to take care of the less fortunate inlcuding children, families, veterans, and senior citizens? Volunteer fire companies and ambulances also rely on this type of income. They just taxed the poorest people to fund their lavish food fetish. Depending on which figure you believe anywhere from $14 million to $100 million in aid to those humans is now lost. This action should create the environment for the next tea party.
To be fair you should note that House Republicans were kept OUT of the deal and had no say in its creation.
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