Court Blocks Hart’s Dangerous Idea

Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, is a cartoonish figure with a dangerous idea. The tax scofflaw and public timber thief argued before the Idaho Supreme Court that he belonged to a privileged class - the 105 members of Idaho’s Legislature. Arguing the government has no constitutional authority to tax his income, Hart is now $550,000 behind on his federal taxes and he owes $53,000 to the state. For close to three years, he’s been using one tactic after another to stall the state tax collector. Among them was a section of the Idaho Constitution that protects lawmakers from arrest or being detained while the Legislature is in session “except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.” Boiled down, it means Idaho’s founding fathers wanted to protect ordinary citizens from having a judge arbitrarily yank their elected representatives from a legislative session. And as a practical matter, lawmakers have found ways to accommodate both the courts and their obligation to their constituents. When it comes to Hart, however, it’s always about him/ Marty Trillhaase , Lewiston Tribune. More here.

Question: How does Hart continue to fool some his backers all of the time?