Using an all-contractor staff to avoid taxes seems like a very Republican way to pay your employees:
The Critz campaign has come out swinging in yet another chapter of the contentious race for PA-12. Following a jab by Rothfus last week on a House tax vote, Rep. Mark Critz (D-Cambria) is now up in arms over how his opponent pays employees.
Rothfus’ Campaign Manager Jon Raso told The Tribune-Democrat that all staff members are hired as consultants, meaning they (and not the campaign) are responsible for covering both their own as well as the employer’s share of taxes. This includes Social Security and Medicare.
Critz’s campaign hires both employees and consultants, having covered $40,000 in taxes for their employees during the first half of 2012. Rothfus has not had to pay any taxes because he has no “employees.”
While I can’t imagine voters are going to shed a tear for political campaign workers, I think the Critz campaign is smart to highlight this because this is exactly the sort of weasely behavior Republicans defend as the highest expression of patriotism when rich guys do it. I don’t feel qualified to comment on whether it’s technically legal or not, but that’s not really the point. I think most voters will think this is a shady way to do business, and connect it to Rothfus’ political party’s defense of tax loopholes and celebration of tax avoiders.
(Thanks: Kelly Cernetich)
