The Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee issued a press release today calling on Idaho elected officials to say where they stand on Rep. Phil Hart's tax woes, which are the subject of pending House ethics committee; the committee will look into whether Hart had a conflict of interest in serving on the House Revenue & Taxation Committee while pressing his legal fight over unpaid state and federal income taxes, and whether he abused legislative privilege by citing it in seeking delays in his tax cases.

"Idaho citizens work hard and pay their taxes that provide for roads, schools and our national defense," said Thom George, chairman of the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee, in the release. "Even if we don't always agree with how those taxes are collected and distributed we understand our responsibility to comply with federal and state laws. For Mr. Hart to refuse to pay his taxes for years and then fail to comply with a court decision ordering repayment is reprehensible. Each and every elected official in the state of Idaho should call upon Mr. Hart to step down immediately."