Phil Hart Has Held Off Tax Man Before

It turns out that Rep. Phil Hart’s current dispute with the Idaho State Tax Commission and state Board of Tax Appeals isn’t the first time he’s invoked his status as a state legislator to hold off the tax man. In 2006, as a newly elected lawmaker with just one session under his belt, Hart came to Boise for a one-day special session called by then-Gov. Jim Risch. While Hart was in the state Capitol, an IRS employee snagged him and served him with a document subpoena. “They just caught me in the building. It was a surprise,” Hart said. “They just handed me some paper work and it was a summons, and that was that.” He protested, noting the state Constitution’s protection of lawmakers from civil process while in session, and the IRS served him with the same summons again in November during a face-to-face meeting/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• Rep. Phil Hart contests $53,000 he owes to Idaho/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Hart faces $300,000 in new IRS tax liens/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Rusche won’t ask Hart to quit House tax panel/Dustin Hurst, Idaho Reporter
• Stapilus: Why Hart’s tax problems matter/Ridenbaugh Press

Question: Why aren’t government “watchdogs” in the community — and we have a number of them — calling for Hart’s resignation?