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Show San OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL U.S. officials to 'standard of law1 Advocate March 12, 1998 4A Hold tors and members of Congress could only Bv AL LATIMER Staff writer ing asked to testify about possible wrongdoing by the president regarding his pos- be punished by their peers, with the maximum penalty being expulsion from the U.S. House or Senate. Legal scholars are debating whether the president can be indicted for a crime and not surprisingly, the consensus seems to be that he cannot be charged. The only reason Paula Jones' suit against President Clinton was allowed to go forward was because the alleged incident occurred before he was president. One would hope that Americans would be disturbed at the thought that an elected official could commit a murder in the middle of the street in front of witnesses and not be liable to prosecution. But that appears to be the case as lawmakers are apparently immune to civil and criminal penalties. Some people argue that these officials, especially the president, need immunity to avoid being indicted by irate leaders in a state or local jurisdictions who might file civil or even criminal charges for political pur- sible involvement with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The agency maintains that in order to do its job of protecting the president, the officers must not become witnesses against him. This sort of thinking is right out of the Nixon era. The last time checked, secret service agents are first and foremost law enforcement officers. They are not personal bodyguards sworn to defend and support the president, no matter the legality of what he does. Should the men and women assigned to protect the president and his family write books about their experiences? think not. Should they be selling stories to the tabloids about family squabbles? Of course they shouldn't. But should they look the other way when a crime is being committed? Our elected representatives are not royalty, aloof from the mundane rules poses. But surely, enough legal safeguards ex- which govern the peasants. Everyone, ist to prevent some petty prosecutor from including the president of the United States, must be held to the same stanharassing the president or members of ConDo actions. frivolous dard of law. It is for this reason that the with these legal gress in need secret service agents in the White House really diplomatic immunity people their own country? should testify if they have personal Now the U.S. Justice Department is an- knowledge of illegal activity. Even if it gry because secret service agents are be concerns the president. the sad, troubled presidency of Richard Nixon taught us anything at all, it is that no elected official, not even the president, should be above the law. Several years ago, Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood was forced to resign amid allegations of sexual harassment being made by female staff members. This incident was the first time that many Americans learned that lawmakers in Washington, D.C., were immune to criminal and civil prosecution. When Packwood's accusers spoke of filing civil lawsuits, it was revealed that a senator could not be sued. It was not until 1995 that members of the United States Congress made themselves subject to the laws they enacted, and expected the rest of us to obey. Prior to that, the lawmakers could ignore regulations everyone else had to follow. The senators and members of Congress could pay their employees a dollar an hour if they wished, since the minimum wage law did not apply to them. They could do or say whatever they pleased, and nobody could sue them or have them charged with a crime. The only body with legal jurisdiction over the Congress was the Congress itself. The sena If I I GUEST EDITORIAL Supports reforming IRS, U.S. tax code Bv THOMAS DONOHUE letters to the editor Student requests Information on Utah on how much money they brought in, and the number of enforcement actions they took - practices specifically forbidden by federal Though it has been said that "taxes are U.S. Chamber of Commerce president the price we pay for civilization," this sort of thinking diverts attention from the real File this one under "Threats or Promlaw. problems at hand. ises." For example, the audit found that some We have a Byzantine tax code that A look at the United States Internal Reveager IRS agents were praised for their high even IRS agents do not fully compreenue Service's new web site tells the story number of property seizures. hend. We labor under high taxes which of a "Surprises Sailor (who) Finds IRS 'This report demonstrates that the agency keep getting higher. TaxFax Service Waiting in Every Port." has failed to strike the proper balance beFor example, starting Jan. 1, there was The story goes on to quote a Navy seatween providing customer services and fair yet another increase in Social Security man who was thrilled about the IRS' new enforcement of the tax law," indicated IRS payroll taxes. The president's recent budservice, which allowed him to obtain tax Commissioner Charles Rossotti in a breath- get showed that the federal government forms "in minutes" while he was in Guam. taking understatement. now takes in more than 20 percent of na"You can reach the IRS TaxFax service from Such charges were among the first to be tional income - more than any year since almost anywhere in the world," he marbrought to light last fall when the U.S. Sen- 1945. vels. ate conducted hearings on the IRS' aggresThe movement to reform the IRS is Of course, the underlying message is sive practices. good politics, certainly, since criticizing that no matter how far you run from the With the support of the U.S. Chamber of the agency is perennially popular with IRS, you can't hide! the public. It is good policy, as well. But Commerce, the House of Representatives The website is just one way the IRS has in November overwhelmingly passed a bi- it isn't enough. been working overtime to burnish its impartisan bill to reform the federal tax agency. Reforming the IRS and extending conWith the momentum generated by the gressional oversight are important goals. age. After all, this is the agency whose own Senate's February hearings on IRS harassEven more important are tax and entitlement, we now must convince the Senate to ment reform. recently made public uncovered evidence of improper and ille- follow suite. U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich has of its gal practices at more than Overhauling the IRS is essential and long pointed out that the average American 33 offices. overdue. The IRS, while not a business, family sees 38 percent of its income go Improper because the IRS ranked its 33 should treat American citizens as their most to federal, state and local coffers. tax districts on how closely they met their favored customers. We really should be examining why After all, we pay their salaries! We are a we have to pay such high taxes, instead goals of tax collection (a practice now curtailed). Possibly illegal because employgovernment of the people and the IRS ought of simply making the process easier and ees were allegedly being evaluated based not lose sight of that. friendlier for taxpayers. -- one-thir- d "W in ui ky wmeonVV to bor Benne(l Homey, calierl Jierh- .- V or awy Starr quarrel yers dtrscily Iy Cit"on someone . vzS?stJeak key release of ir ft O yln iranie of ' v' A lV wii ,uoe4 j- that new "!,,ncrt'r th't unC t'erT m th- GAO"' Y U le there ,s tod dor KennrH uki;;u I'm 10 7 a n ko follow the a sot0.. el-- ' The president pnv were poised 10 file Pl Rock, Art, seeking an 'nr of leaking r- -- seCCrr Jordan t ''Vs 'one ble anc seen in this to ... tty, very long time jnpossible to determine leaked, bun for Leu ne. his ted lh f- -n N- v I Kina Editor: How many more? In accordance with the spirit and intent of the First Amendment of our Constitution, how many more of our people have to die or be injured on U.S. N 7 Jwftve if BvfnF' -1 h1 I ' the source of If'''4 " him. (peated that h. r T H what? Voice of Carbon County since c. i'oUdlecussrTh jceofthes Mi nom; he'hev. " with funder Sanies lp a k der Ashby pay. There seems to be no end to the Utah Legislatures ability to find new ways to get the poor to pay the way for the rich. Another front page article in The Salt Lake Tribune on Feb. 25 confirmed: Utah designs tax policy hoping to reap economic benefits wealthy residents bring..." While Utahs tax policies help the affluent, they place undue burden on others. Lower-wag- e earners pay a disproportionately large share of their incomes in taxes. Wealth is fine, but not when it is buoyed up by the rest of the population. The working poor in Utah are just getting by. Salt Lake City legislator Dave with 4.4 percent of wealthy resi- dents incomes. Jones added that the disparity has grown larger overtime. We have no problem with wealth, we simply think everyone should have a fair shot at it, said Jones. That isnt the case in Utah right now. Also, the question should be asked - do the working poorer classes in Utah really believe that paying higher taxes and (continued on page -- TTW. J'er itagl Bonnie Johnson Lynnette Lessar Shirley Stubbs Classifieds Deadline: Monday at 10:00 a.m. for Tuesday's publication and Christa Kaminski Wednesday Lynda Barnett Thursday's Ashby de fe-- ' ve' -i- tv,d vJO'"NrO (801)637-2716- ,51 uh1 s&H , CCfUM e Linda Thayn Kasandra Asay Lynda Barnett Office Manager Circulation Receptionist rights reserved by the Sun Advocate. All Is property of Sun Advocate. No part herein may be reproduced without prior written consent.. All Fax . isPublication No. (USPS 174-960- ) sued twice a week at Price, Utah. Periodical postage paid at Price, Utah, and at additional mailing office PO Box 589, Castle Dale, Utah 84513. - OFFICE ( t' jv at 10:00 a.m. for publication. Telephone: Ann Kay Marslng Al Latimer v Subscription Rates: 50 cents per copy; $35 per year delivered by carrier In Carbon and Emery counties; $38 in Utah, $42 out of Utah per year by mall. Sue Mosher Lynnda Johnson Scott Parker l temp 5A) Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 845 East Main, Price, Utah. EDITORIAL teak mm 892 ADMINISTRATION Kevin Hollo fa . 1 tonask ' "fuld to), 1 r dlrtcdy rtday her those who can least afford to (oldVGSQtG ADVERTISING lui wme nng the , LiQA ho Sail Kevin i i liter deni ,etor. matically reduce the cost of registration fees on newer cars, while at the same time dramatically increasing the registration n w h- A recent front page article in the Emery County Progress demonstrated how the Utah Legislature has voted to dra- ak wa. Moum to Lwm.vuto ewi- u- working classes Editor: c?.;fined .cm U iesarlel taxes, toll roads and other across the board taxes and fees have the greatest impact on Jones to data that Highway 6 through Spanish shows pointed state property, income Fork Canyon before something and sales taxes amounted to 9.4 is done about this stretch of Utahs percent of middle-clas- s roadway? in incomes 1996, compared Bert L. Collins evei S' JO s to How many more must die on U.S. 6? mi nt Loi send It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that the poorer classes of Utah are going to be the most injured by this new legislation. Obviously hikes in gasoline fto"1 La (..i laed for possi scheduled (nr S Kings I'ws pet!' gs-- cv. d th sSsssS Starr denies the h00' sl,on in Jones' su" on to C1VU MoreU foftgftll M wth "VM House, vV0' '.nail gnrni wiih everyone oO Cj'' v - liar , - Please Archuleta, 9924 200th Avenue E., Sumner, WA 93390. Kina Archuleta Buckley, Wash. Price jtony ujjj -- Editor: Each member in my class is working on a project called Parade of States." We are responsible for gathering as much information as we can to help sell the state. I have chosen your state, Utah, for my presentation. If any of your readers would help me out by sending pictures, postcards, a used license plate, fact products, etc., from your state it would be greatly appreciated. Vehicle tax hike hits over depsl1 fees on older cars. Postmaster: Send change of address to P0 Box 870, Price, Utah 84501. Internet:e-mall- - Publisher - kashbysisna.com Editor - editorsisna.com Ads web - adssisna.com http:www.sunad.com ... . . . i |