There’s a scandal in New York involving the Governor’s Chief of Staff. Charles O’Byrne is Chief of Staff to New York Governor David Paterson. He makes a good salary ($178,500 a year). He also owes $200,000 in back taxes—he didn’t file tax returns from 2001 through 2005 (from the news story it appears the unpaid taxes are New York state income taxes).
Mr. O’Byrne blames bouts of clinical depression for the failure to file tax returns. Republicans in the state senate are trying to make hay on this, and are starting an investigation. Governor Paterson (who succeeded to office after the Eliot Spitzer scandal) promises to soon disclose Mr. O’Byrne’s tax records.
In any case, if you are an elected government official, or if you are a high staff member of such an official, make sure you pay your taxes. You can be that if you don’t the opposition—be it Republicans or Democrats—will use this against you politically.