Mayor draws support against DHS officials

Editor:

I have been reading with great interest your online articles about the border wall and the mayor's opposition to it. I have to applaud your mayor for his stand and am thoroughly dismayed by the online comments trashing him for it.

Do these people not understand that Mayor Ahumada is voicing the thoughts, feelings and frustrations of tax-paying landowners in and around Brownsville, all of whom have every reason to be outraged by what is happening to them?

I don't hear Mayor Ahumada opposing border security or immigration control; I hear him speaking out in favor of solutions that won't cause irreparable damage to the lives, homes and property of the city's citizens or destroy a diverse ecosystem that is home to some of the most unique plant, bird and animal life remaining in the country.

To the citizens of Brownsville I say: You should be proud to have one elected official who is willing to stand up and speak out to protect your interests as citizens, taxpayers and property owners (and I'm sorry the other commissioners don't seem to feel such an obligation).

To Mayor Pat Ahumada: It's a fine job you do, sir.

Pat B. Stutzman

Paris Tenn.

Via the Internet

From Mayflower to the Rio Grande

Editor:

As we ponder the debate over whether we should accept the federal government's choice of erecting a wall or to choose the alternatives, as limited as they are, it is vital that all local entities involved be not defiant, but firm and united in speaking with one voice.

The year 1607 marks the establishment of the first permanent colony in what is now the United States. At first, America was not the paradise pictured by many.

But as time evolved, these colonists helped form the character of this country. Great American statesmen have done much to make these United States a more desirable place to live in than anywhere else in the world.

But those in Austin and Washington have always looked at our existence from a distance and sometimes treat us like an undesirable colony. Let us not forget that when the United States acquired Texas, California and other northern territories, it was this that stimulated the physical expansion of this then-young nation.

Our country should never forget that Brownsville and the border area played a significant role in the Western movement that helped in the shaping and progress of this country. Today, the issue in question is on American soil and Washington wants to solve a worldwide problem with a fence. It is difficult to accept the fact that we have to engage our own government in the courtroom to reach an agreement on how best to divide land and people.

There is a simple way of coming to terms with this issue if we just only listen to the words written by Charles E. Hughes: "All ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy."

We in South Texas have been explicit in our patriotism. Let it be clear that we are not against a more secure border, but merely against how to secure the border.

After the Mexican War, a division was established between the United States and Mexico. The Rio Grande has been a source of life to many and a stream of death for many who have dared to cross it. But as long as there is hunger in this world, no obstacle is too great for anyone to conquer.

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety," wrote Benjamin Franklin.

Rene Torres

Brownsville

Via the Internet

IRS collects taxes that aren't owed

Editor:

One time, when the IRS first instituted the Taxpayer Advocate Service, a grandmotherly sounding lady told me, "Son, we here at the IRS don't try to collect tax that is not owed."

I responded, "Lady, in the off season, I spend about a third of my time trying to keep the IRS from doing just that - collecting tax from people who don't owe it."

It was called the Problem Resolution Office back then. They have changed the name to the Taxpayer Advocate Service. And somehow they have convinced most of the "associate advocates" that IRS does not try to collect tax from those who do not owe it.

That, and the misleading name they were given, is what makes the Associate Taxpayer Service so dangerous. They think IRS really does not try to collect tax that is not owed.

A general contractor in El Paso reported on a Form 1099 that he had paid a subcontractor $24,505 more than the subcontractor reported on his Form 1040.

Naturally, IRS assumed the 1099 Form was correct and the subcontractor's Form 1040 was false. So IRS sent the subcontractor a bill for the tax due on the additional $24,505.

Who knows which Form was correct - the general contractor's Form 1099 or the subcontractor's Form 1040. I certainly do not know.

On June 11, 1991, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, ruled against the IRS and in an opinion written by Justice Peter Fay wrote:

The Commissioner would merely need to attempt to substantiate the charge of unreported income by some other means, such as by showing the taxpayer's net worth, bank deposits, cash expenditures, or source and application of funds.

Has IRS started assessing tax on unreported income by the above methods; or is it still matching merely matching 1099 Forms (and W-2 Forms) with 1040 Forms filed by taxpayers?

A decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals is law within the jurisdiction of that court unless reversed by the Supreme Court or a subsequent opinion by the same court.

Texas is within the jurisdiction of the Fifth Circuit. The case is still valid.

You guessed it: IRS is not following the law.

An associate taxpayer advocate once asked me, "If that's the law, why does the IRS still have the forms matching program?"

"That's a good question," I answered. "I expect that they still have the forms matching program because they collect so much tax with so little effort with that program, never mind that the much of the tax may not be actually owed."

So if or when we get a friendly CP2000 from the IRS, indicating that we owe additional tax; if we do not think it is correct; we should appeal to the IRS Appeals Office.

Never mind the Taxpayer Advocate Service, where we could be represented by one of the many local and national tax preparation firms that seem to be on almost every corner, or one of their unlicensed forms preparers.

A taxpayer may represent him or herself before an appeals officer, or he or she may be represented by an enrolled agent, an attorney at law, or a certified public accountant.

Bill Fulcher, enrolled agent

Brownsville

Via the Internet

De Leon arrest raises concerns

Editor:

Sad day in Cameron County. I read the story in your paper concerning the arrest of one of the best if not the best district attorney Cameron County has ever had, Yolanda de Leon.

It is difficult to understand how she could tamper with documents the present district attorney has in his office. Unless these documents were released by his office improperly. The whole scenario appears to be like something a Conrado Cantu personality would do: make mistakes and then blame some else for the error.

It is a shame and embarrassing to see Cameron County regressing to the same position it was in a few years ago.

Sure would be nice if the district attorney would recognize the rule of law rather than make up his own rules as he goes along to try to cover his mistakes.

A. Sylvia Vela

Harlingen

Via the Internet