President Bush paid $227,490 in federal income taxes last year on taxable income of $727,083, according to a summary of the president's federal returns released Tuesday by the White House. Bush and his wife, Laura, listed as income his presidential salary and the investment income from trusts that hold their assets. The Bushes' tax bill was slightly lower than the previous year, when the First Couple paid $268,719 in federal income taxes. He gave 90,000 in charity.
In 2003, Sen. John Kerry had $395,000 in taxable income and paid $90,575 in federal income taxes. Kerry had $43,735 in charitable contributions. Last year, Kerry wrote "A Call to Service," of which had $89,000 in proceeds. Kerry is paying the taxes on the proceeds from the book and is donating the balance to charity. The tax return also shows $175,000 in capital gains, from the sale of one-half interest of a painting, which was reported last year.
In December 2003, Kerry announced that he loaned his campaign $6.4 Million by mortgaging a share of a Boston home he jointly owns with his wife. Heinz-Kerry paid cash for the Beacon Hill mansion in January 1995. But according To Kerry's own 1994 senate personal financial disclosure [signed May, 15, 1995], Kerry's own personal net worth was little more than $130,000 The current loan on the house carries an annual interest payment of $200,000, records show, more than Kerry's $158,000 Senate salary. Kerry's campaign says he intends to pay off the 30-year mortgage himself. "Sen. Kerry is a man who has considerable assets," spokesman Michael Meehan explains. But Kerry's financial disclosures show no assets sufficient to pay the loan -- or even a way to keep up with the interest payments!
Some say this is not a big deal, but I think that it is... What do alot of people say about Republicans? That they are rich and that it is easy for them to get into politics. Well, our friend John F'n Kerry did the noble thing and mortgaged his house because he believed so strongly in his campaign. But he can't even afford the interest on that house. He says he is going to pay it off, but who did he loan the money to? His campaign. The campaign has to pay it back, not him. So all the 'donations' from 'grassroot' movements now own a 6.4 million Bosonian home. That is so kind of Kerry. So in actuality his wife put up the loan. She is worth 2.5 billion dollars. So who is the rich one in this election. I don't care how much money a politician has, i just want them to have the country in the best interest.
