Senator Paul Sarlo Calls for Investigation of Garrett’s Taxes

October 16th, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct 16, 2008
Contact: Jeff Hauser, (201) 767-8162, jeff@shulmanforcongress.com

Sitting State Senator identifies several issues that require an immediate investigation

Haworth, NJ - New Jersey State Senator Paul A. Sarlo (D-36) called for an investigation of Scott Garrett’s questionable farmland assessment, as well as whether this assessment is being facilitated by a political ally.

“Scott Garrett is trying to have it both ways.” said New Jersey State Senator Paul A. Sarlo.  “Garrett tells the state of New Jersey that his ‘farm’ produces more than $520 a year in income and is a separate property from his home - and as a result, he gets a tax break worth up to $41,000 a year.  He then turns around and tells the federal government that he has no farm income - indeed, he tells them he owns no such property.  Scott Garrett cannot have it both ways, and the New Jersey Division of Taxation needs to open an investigation to determine whether Scott Garrett is engaged in a tax evasion scheme to duck his fair share of New Jersey state taxes.”

“Ordinary taxpayers know they can’t play a ‘get out of taxes free’ card with their local assessor, and they have a right to be confident that their elected representative is no different.  We need to make sure that the Wantage Township Tax Assessor is complying with the law, can justify her decision to give Scott Garrett this enormous tax break, and is not giving Garrett special treatment because he is a Congressman.”

The Shulman for Congress campaign has identified several unanswered questions concerning Garrett’s taxation:

  • Scott Garrett signs an oath that he earns income from land he and his wife wholly own, yet they report no income to the State of New Jersey or federal government.  30% of income from land farmed by another is attributable to the landowner.  How can he get away with claiming to earn income when it qualifies him for a tax break, but claim no income when it would require him to pay taxes?
  • Garrett crony Melissa Rockwell, the Wantage Township Tax Assessor, refused repeated public document requests to substantiate her claims that Garrett has the requisite 5.20 acres under an “active woodlot management program” or is meeting the $520 a year income requirement.  Will Garrett’s local ally comply with the renewed record requests filed Tuesday morning, 10/14, in Wantage, NJ?
  • Satellite images of Garrett’s estate suggest that he does not have 5.20 acres under an “active woodlot management program,” as is required of “farmers” who identify their farm product as “trees and shrubs.”  New Jersey politicians who take this farmland assessment historically give tours to reporters. Garrett has refused to do so.  What is he hiding?  Does Garrett farm 5.20 acres?
  • Garrett owns a “farm” for which he pays only $116.02 in property taxes… and hides that property from his federal disclosure form, a federal crime.  How does he get away with this?

For more on this issue, and the Shulman campaign’s TV commercial, visit www.GarrettShrubs.com

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Dennis Shulman was recently profiled by The New Yorker and Time as momentum for his campaign continues to grow, and recent polling in the district validates the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s decision to upgrade NJ-5 as a “Red to Blue” priority and to buy advertising time in the district.  Only 31% of likely voters in NJ-5 plan to re-elect Garrett and, by a 68-17% margin, the district seeks change from George Bush’s policies.

Dr. Dennis Shulman has gained international recognition for his 30 years of work as a psychologist, educator, and author.  An ordained rabbi for five years and blind since childhood, he has lived in New Jersey’s Fifth District for more than 25 years with his wife, Dr. Pamela Tropper, an obstetrician. They have two adult daughters.

Additional background on Dr. Dennis Shulman and his challenge to Scott Garrett:

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