The governor releases her IRS return; Dino Rossi still won't
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has released her IRS returns for the past three years. Gregoire's Republican challenger, former state Sen. Dino Rossi, continues to decline to release his.
Gregoire and her husband, Mike, made $180,179 last year. Most of that is the governor's salary, plus $31,975 in pensions and annuities. Mike Gregoire is retired. The couple claims daughter Michelle as a dependent.
Since 2005, the Gregoire's total income has increased by about $20,000. Over the past three years, the Gregoires have made between $5,000 and $9,000 in gifts annually to charity.
After I received Gregoire's returns, I checked in again with the Rossi campaign. The e-mailed response from spokeswoman Jill Strait was the same as before: "Our position hasn't changed. He's fully complied with all financial disclosures that are required."
Rossi, like Gregoire, has filed financial papers with the state Public Disclosure Commission. By my math, he's making at minimum $255,000 a year from real estate and book publishing. But that's just the minimum. He could be making much more than that.
Some Crosscut readers don't think candidates should feel compelled to release their IRS returns and don't think reporters should ask. I appreciate that feedback, and it helps inform my reporting.
That said, I will reiterate that IRS returns can be useful for a variety of reasons. They can reveal potential conflicts of interest for a candidate. They are a window into a candidate's charitable giving habits. Also, it can be helpful to voters to know where a gubernatorial candidate falls on the socio-economic spectrum. I wouldn't think that would be a deciding factor in casting a vote, but it certainly can help voters draw a portrait of a candidate.
As I've readily acknowledged before, Gregoire is an easier case study. She's had a long career in state government and state politics — her salary is public record. Rossi, too, has served in public office, as a state senator, but he's a businessman and has had many more private financial dealings.
At the end of the day, reporters like me might not feel compelled to ask for tax information if the Public Disclosure Commission's reporting requirements were more helpful. As they stand, candidates who make a million dollars use the same salary coding as candidates who make a hundred thousand a year.
Comments:
Posted Wed, Jul 9, 7:24 p.m. inappropriate
If he had nothing to hide: Rossi would disclose if he had nothing to hide. The presidential candidates do it, and it is done by gubernatorial candidates in many states. I don't buy that he stands on the idea that the law doesn't require it. He and his BIAW friends would be all over Gregoire -- accusing her of all of manner of skulduggery -- were the shoe on the other foot. And Austin, please don't apologize to all the Rossi apologists who have commented and professed outrage at your request for the records. It's a legitimate request. It gives voters a window into what kind of a person the candidate is. And finally, whatever Gregoire's income, she earned it, so hang it in your ears people who feel otherwise because it was "taxpayer money." If you work, and that's questionable, you drive to work every day on "taxpayer money," rely on the policeman you call with "taxpayer money," use the schools as daycare for your children on "taxpayer money."
Posted Wed, Jul 9, 7:49 p.m. inappropriate
The governor of king county: certainly has a long record of public service . Perhaps that's why she has
become so inept at managing the states departments - which have waisted
MILLIONS of tax dollars .
Its WAY past time for a change .
Posted Wed, Jul 9, 9:36 p.m. inappropriate
Stilll waiting for Jenkins and Postman to post their Tax returns: I appreciate that you appreciate the feedback, now please show us you tax returns. As employees of the State run media as well as journalists in the private sector the reading public would like to be certain that Jenkins and Postman and their family members are not being corrupted by "other" income that might sway their presentations on the airwaves and in print.
Posted Wed, Jul 9, 10:24 p.m. inappropriate
RE: Stilll waiting for Jenkins and Postman to post their Tax returns: Why should he do that? It would be off topic and a sideshow to see just what kind of meager living one can expect from writing.
The topic is who a candidate for public office, the highest public office in Washington State, has a financial relationship with. It is a simple question with no "sway" at all.
Posted Thu, Jul 10, 12:46 a.m. inappropriate
The Governor has a financial relationships with Tribes and Unions: The Governor has proven finincial ties with Tribes and Unions which she has direct negotiating authority over. Indeed she has negotiated contracts favorable to both tribal and State Union employee groups with significant financial impacts on the taxpayers of Washington State for decades to come. Where is that listed on the IRS forms ?