Alaska Politics Blog : Begich responds

Begich responds

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Anchorage Daily News

Posted: April 10, 2008 - 1:17 pm

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage --

Here's the response Mark Begich's campaign put out to the National Republican Senatorial Committee's posting of his federal tax liens:

WASHINGTON REPUBLICANS ALREADY ATTACKING MARK BEGICH

Negative Campaign Starts Even Before Begich is a Senate Candidate

Mark Begich, who has yet to announce his candidacy against 40-year incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, is already on the receiving end of typical Washington negative attacks. The National Republican Senatorial Campaign today attacked Mark Begich for late payment of taxes over a decade ago.

"I've started and operated small businesses for 30 years, with my first one at age 16," Begich said. "Like with all small businesses, some have been successful and some not, but I've always paid my taxes, made payroll to my employees and I believe everyone should pay their taxes. Like many people who own struggling businesses, in both of these cases, we paid the taxes as soon as we were able to, which was within a few months of receiving the lein."

"I believe in full disclosure," Begich went on to say. "If I become a candidate for the Senate, I will release my past income tax statements to Alaska voters. I think a candidate's personal finances should be part of the public record."

Heather Rauch, manager of Begich's exploratory committee said it's not surprising that the National Republicans are resorting to the same negative tactics as usual.

"It's too bad that the Washington Republicans are more engaged in negative campaigning than passing laws to help Americans successfully start and run small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy" said Begich.

Background

Begich and his older brother Nick were partners in a small vending business, Northstar Vending, in the early 1990s. Like many small business, it experienced growing pains as the brothers expanded it. They fell behind on payroll tax payments and when notified by the IRS of the overdue payments, paid them off within six months. The Begich brothers paid $8,820.81 on 5/30/95 and $8,024.88 on 11/3/97.

After successfully operating and growing the business for 11 years, they sold it to Vend Alaska in 2002.

Another business in which Begich was involved is certain to be used against him by the national Republican smear machine. In 1996, Begich was one of a small group of investors who pooled their money to help a young woman retool the old Hog Brother's Café into the Roosevelt Café. Begich was only a 1 percent investor and had no involvement in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. But when notified by the IRS that taxes had not been paid, Begich organized the partners to close down the café and pay off the taxes.

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