Wait, You Can Do That? Harassment Tax Break Edition

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by: Colorado Pols

Rep. Ken Buck (R).

KDVR FOX 31 Denver reports on a proposal from a Colorado Republican for which we think there ought to be unanimous support, in light of headlines coast to coast and flyover states too–but for one little problem:

Whether it be Bill O’Reilly, Harvey Weinstein, Roy Moore or Steve Lebsock, the topic is dominating Colorado airwaves.

Now Congressman Ken Buck says it’s time to end the practice of businesses being able to deduct harassment settlements from their taxes.

“Right now a business can write that off as an ordinary and necessary business expense which is wrong,” Buck told FOX31 political reporter Joe St. George.

The idea that a corporation can build harassment settlements into the cost of doing business to the extent that they can get a tax break for them might come as a rude shock to many readers, and we of course have no idea when this particular provision may have been inserted into the tax code.

We assume plenty of dudes through the years found it useful. It’s good to see that time may finally be past.

With that said, there is a problem in the case of Rep. Ken Buck’s proposal with implementation:

Buck has written a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee chairman asking for language to be included in the latest tax reform debate on Capitol Hill.

That’s right–unfortunately, this no-brainer of a tax deduction to repeal is going to get bundled with a whole bunch of other and in many cases stupid alterations to the tax code, an elusive “pay-for” in the GOP’s budget-busting tax cut plan that–while we certainly wouldn’t mind seeing this particular pay-for enacted–isn’t worth the widespread harm certain to ensue when the hole these cuts create has to be filled. As a general guide, that is usually right after the opposing party retakes power.

If Buck keeps this idea alive in the entirely possible event the tax bill tanks, or fails to include this provision at all, we’ll circle back to thank him.

As of now, we’d rather see a “clean” harassment tax break repeal.

14 thoughts on “Wait, You Can Do That? Harassment Tax Break Edition”

Moderatus says:

November 14, 2017 at 1:28 pm

You always have to get your political pound of flesh, don't you Colorado Pols?

Just say thanks and be done with it. But you can't do that because he's a Republican.

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1. unnamed says:
  
  November 14, 2017 at 1:42 pm
  
  I know. It's not like there were other issues with the bill that made it undesirable.
  
  Ready to talk about last week’s elections?
  
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2. DawnPatrol says:
  
  November 14, 2017 at 2:19 pm
  
  You're a sad, stupid little man.
  
  Your corrupt party had its political ass beaten — thoroughly, severely, decisively — last week, all around the country.
  
  And guess what? It's also going to happen specifically to YOU and yours in due time (2018, 2020), right here, all across Colorado!
  
  Get ready, little man. The bell will soon toll for thee.
  
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3. DavidThi808 says:
  
  November 15, 2017 at 11:10 am
  
  I'm with you, just say thank you for trying to do a good thing using the best available means possible to accomplish it.
  
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  1. Moderatus says:
    
    November 15, 2017 at 3:29 pm
    
    EXACTLY. Why is this so hard to understand? Partisanship really blinds people.
    
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  2. Phoenix Rising says:
    
    November 15, 2017 at 7:15 pm
    
    Is it trying to do a good thing, or is it cynically taking advantage of the opportunity to make a feel-good proposal on something that's likely to be a dead bill, after all is said and done? Or worse, an opportunity to say "Democrats voted against ending this tax break" because they voted against the tax reform billl generally?
    
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Phoenix Rising says:

November 14, 2017 at 2:10 pm

There are all kinds of penalties that businesses get to write off or shrug off.

If you're going to write this kind of provision, how about we extend that to all kinds of malicious practices. And more, how about we say that insurance won't cover cases where an abusive practice was covered up or willfully ignored by the company (as found by a court)?

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1. MichaelBowman says:
  
  November 14, 2017 at 5:43 pm
  
  To wit: (it's just bidness)
  
  How $80 Billion in Corporate Fines Can Become $48 Billion in Tax Breaks
  
  Koch Industries' $30 Million Fine Is Biggest-Ever Pollution Penalty
  
  Duke Energy fined $102 million for polluting rivers with coal ash
  
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RepealAndReplace says:

November 14, 2017 at 5:19 pm

Stay the course, Representative Buck.

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JohnInDenver says:

November 14, 2017 at 7:37 pm

Heck, I'd be interested to find out the extent of tax deductions resulting from claiming them as business expenses.

Anyone happen to know if court settlements to a victim are taxable?

My preference would be to not monkey around with deduction status, but to insure there cannot be sealed court-approved settlements. If such a provision results in more trials, so be it.

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1. notaskinnycook says:
  
  November 15, 2017 at 12:10 pm
  
  Here you go, JiD. If you really want to get into the weeds on this question.
  
  http://www.meehanboyle.com/taxat
  
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Arvadonian1 says:

November 15, 2017 at 10:18 am

It is a good start….but how about amending the House (and Senate) rules that put taxpayers on the hook to settle congressional sexual harassment cases? https://www.politico.com/story/2011/09/taxpayers-pay-hill-harassment-claims-064673

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1. Moderatus says:
  
  November 15, 2017 at 3:29 pm
  
  I don't know but in Colorado the sexual harassers all seem to be Democrats.
  
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  1. unnamed says:
    
    November 15, 2017 at 3:34 pm
    
    Ah yes. The one sexual harasser that has been named.
    
    I guess you conveniently forget that male Republican Senators (plural) were mentioned but not named.
    
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