Democrats: Taxes for thee but not for me

Democratic senator pushing higher taxes faces outstanding $1,200 tax penalty

Just last week, Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu argued during a Capitol Hill hearing that the government needs more tax revenue.

But in a twist of hypocrisy, the Louisiana senator and her husband appear to have not yet paid $1,206.95 in tax penalties to the District of Columbia government on their Capitol Hill home, The Daily Caller has learned.

According to public records available online in the District of Columbia’s “Real Property Assessment Database,” the D.C. government has penalized Landrieu $1,003.33, plus $202.62 in interest, for 2012 taxes on her mansion on East Capitol Street. It is unclear what the penalty is for.

The online records indicate that the penalty was still outstanding as of Feb. 2. A spokeswoman for Landrieu did not immediately respond to an email from TheDC on Sunday asking for more information.

While the property is listed in the name of her husband, Frank Snellings, online search result listings  indicate that the East Capitol home is Landrieu’s address.

The house is worth about $2.3 million dollars, according to online assessments.

Just last week during a Capitol Hill hearing, Landrieu argued for higher taxes, saying “the reality” is “that the revenues coming in to the government are the lowest level since President Eisenhower was the president.”

“We have to bring [in] more revenues,” Landrieu said during a Feb. 14 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on debt reduction and the federal budget.

While owing tax penalties to D.C., Landrieu sits on the Senate committee that has oversight responsibilities over the city. She’s a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s subcommittee on oversight of government management, the federal workforce, and the District of Columbia.

UPDATE: Amber McDowell, a spokeswoman for Landrieu, responded in a statement to The Daily Caller on Monday.

“Thank you for you inquiry,” McDowell said. “The Senator and her husband are traveling in Asia this week and the DC government offices are closed due to Presidents Day.  When they reopen, we will be able to supply you with additional information on this issue.”