Ohio Pastors File IRS Complaints Over C Street House

[RedEarth]

The C Street Center, a boarding house for Christian lawmakers made famous by its role in the Ensign and Sanford scandals, is facing two complaints from a group of Ohio pastors. The pastors allege that the center is improperly using its tax status to offer below-market rents to members of Congress -- a charge that could ensnare the members as well.

The 13 pastors, who say they're concerned about the separation of church and state, filed one complaint with the IRS arguing that C Street has improperly declared itself a "church" for taxation purposes on February 23. Their second IRS complaint, filed this week and obtained by TPM, alleges that C Street's rent is much lower than market price. The problem, according to the complaint, is that the members are either not paying taxes on that extra income, or that they're receiving unreported gifts.

Lawmakers who live in the house reportedly pay $950 a month in rent for a furnished room and housekeeping services. The complaint, written by the group's lawyer and former director of the IRS's tax-exempt department Marcus Owens, states that one-bedroom apartments in the area run about $1,700 a month. Corporate housing and hotels -- which, like C Street, offer amenities like housekeeping -- charge up to $7,000 a month,

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/ohio_pastors_file_irs_complaints_over_c_street_hou.php?ref=fpa

[kestrel91316]

1. John Ensign (R-NV) is already in deep hot water over his mistress.

He also is one of the Senators who lives at C Street and gets nearly free room and board.

[patrice]

2. Tell me that house on C Street isn't at the HEART of this nation's Blaspheming Idolatorous War Monge

ring ways . . .

and I won't believe you.

[Quantess]

3. The whole thing is so bizzarre.

Nothing about it seems normal.