Politicians rail against “Washington” as if they were outsiders, but sometimes, Washington is their true home, and they only go to their “home” state when it is politically expedient. Within limits, that is permissible. But Congressman Robert Wexler has flouted those limits, practicing residency fraud and extreme hypocrisy.
Wexler lives in a Washington suburb, but lists as his residence a retirement community in south Florida where his in-laws live, but where Wexler and his own family cannot live because it’s a 55-and-older community. (Article I, section 2 of the Constitution prescribes that a Congressman ”when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.”) That is deceitful and fraudulent.
There is also a big element of hypocrisy in all this. Wexler’s office has demonized citizens for not disclosing where they live on a daily basis, insisting that ordinary citizens not be allowed to list any place other than their current actual abode as their address, even if they have justifiable reasons for doing so, like personal security, and even if their listing an alternative address makes no difference (for example, if the address listed is in the same precinct as their actual abode).
For example, the conservative author and pundit Ann Coulter, who had been stalked for years by mentally-unbalanced admirers and detractors, followed advice to conceal her actual address by registering to vote at a house just up the street from her actual address, in the very same precinct. She had actually spent nights at the address she listed, and received her mail at that house, based on advice from the FBI. (Many states have laws that allow domestic violence victims to list a mailing address rather than their actual address for voting purposes, but such laws generally don’t extend to victims whose stalkers are strangers rather than intimates).
But when Wexler’s office found out about this, they screamed that this was voting fraud, and did everything they could to try to get the (liberal) local prosecutor to indict Coulter. For more than two years, Wexler’s staff publicly and repeatedly branded Coulter a felon for not registering to vote under her actual daily abode. They did so even though she did not violate the law, since the address she listed was in the same precinct as her actual daily abode.
But Wexler apparently feels no shame about misstating his address by over a thousand miles, pretending to live in Florida while actually living near Washington, D.C. (If Wexler actually admitted where he lives, there might be financial consequences. The Maryland suburb where Wexler actually lives (Montgomery County) has a state-and-local income tax rate of about 9 percent. Florida, where he falsely claims to live, has no state or local income tax).
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“The Maryland suburb where Wexler falsely claims to live (Montgomery County)…” should maybe be “The Maryland suburb where Wexler actually lives (Montgomery County)…”
One (obvious) omission.
Robert Wexler (D. FL)
No mention of political party ?
Ann Coulter is not elected to public office.
Wexler is and knows the results he faces now that the cat is out of the bag.
This one should not go unreported or ignored.
Wexler not only broke Florida’s law concerning residency, he’s continued this fraud.The State of Florida should at least force him to resign as their representative, but most likely, nothing will be done, especially by the House of Representatives. Where will the JUSTICE be if this guy, (and those like him) are allowed a pass, and Roger Clemmens or Barry Bonds were to go to jail for lying to Congress about strength enhacing drugs to play a game? There’s a lot of law in this country..and very little justice.
i dispise this guy. unfortunatly, he is safe as yesterday. the only way to get rid of him is for him to die or get bumped into an administration job if sen. hopeandchange gets in.
What is not stated in this article is that representatives who keep a residence in or near Washington D.C. are given money to pay for their living expenses while away from home. I’m not certain of the exact form or how this is calculated. Normally, this is reasonable given that the representative is paying a mortgage or upkeep on an actual residence in their district, and this pays for the Washington-area home so they are penalized financially for being a representative. But in Wexler’s case he is perpetrating a fraud and is essentially profiting by having his one and only home paid for by American tax dollars - it’s a free ride for him, not us. He should be removed from office for perpetrating this fraud. What will the Democrats do about this “culture of corruption”? Hmmm?
correction …
Normally, this is reasonable given that the representative is paying a mortgage or upkeep on an actual residence in their district, and this pays for the Washington-area home so they are NOT penalized financially for being a representative.
What is there to say about this? If Federal, State and local politicians were held to the same standards as the rest of the citizens of this country, there wouldn’t be enough members of any legislative body out of jail or in office to provide a quorum. If a crooked politician’s constituents don’t vote him, or her, out; then they are fools.
Robert Wexler is shameless. Hippocracy plus lies roll down his lips, whenever his pie-hole moves. Yet, nothing will be done against Wexler. He spends a lot of time hunting Republicans,much like Van Helsing spends time killing Vampires.He is a neccessary evil to Democrats, not only for his made up lies against Bush and Republicans, but because he does not require one to shake his grimy hand. If one had to shake his digital extremity, one would have to wash one’s hand with a ton of anti-bacterial soap,and gulp down lots of penicillin. By the way, Democrat Uber-State Attorney Barry Krischer could indict The Wexman for voter fraud, the way he indicted Rush and investigated Anne Coulter, but he won’t. San Fran Nan-”the One” plastic surgeons have been waiting for- and her snake oil bandwagon selling the cure-all for the culture of corruption potion won’t do anything either, against Wexler.
Finally, as an American I once again salute our American Democracy. I admire our founding fathers, especially George Washington, more than ever. But read
the Federalist Papers and our fathers’ fear about political parties. In 2008 their warnings resound
as through a loudspeaker. In my opinion, political parties should be banned. I truly believe that’s the only way the real people will be heard. Until that time
the Wexlers and Larry Craigs will be the rule not the exception among politicians. And we my fellow Americans will get the political hacks we deserve.
The words “honest” and “politician” should not be allowed in the same sentence under penalty of a severe whoppin. Seriously, our country has a nobility and that is the politician. Every day I read something about a politician’s shenanigans and/or their utter arrogance and disdain for the law. They are like the nobility of medievial France that could only be tried by a court of their noble peers and only the most heinous of crimes would result in any sort of punishment. “Our” Senators and Representatives have placed themselves above the law. The situation is hopeless. Selfish single interest groups do not care about what happens to the rest of us as long as they get theirs (look at the ethanol lobby, subsidies for all kinds of foolish crap and all the pork that flows with people complaining only if they do not get their “share” of the prok. I’ve given up on our country and I am only sad that my brother vets and I shed blood for America and these bastards continue in power. Oh, one comment; the Federalist Papers were written by people who wanted a STRONGER federal government not a weaker one. Look at the history of the Federalist and Whig debate. Rest in Peace America, I have always loved you.
Thank you for your honest report. It is a shame that politicians believe they are above the law and are allowed to break the law. American’s that hold public office are there to serve us and serve our country. We are their boss, we elect them in they should not be held up on a pedestal.
This government was created “of the people, by the people, and for the people”, but it has become a government “of the politicans, by the politicians, and for the politicians”. It isn’t just the republicans, it isn’t just the democrats.
He may also be violating Maryland tax law if he is avoiding Maryland income tax by falsely claiming to be a Florida resident.
I’ll make this short and sweet. Any ordinary person out there that has done what Robert Wexler has done would have been thrown in jail already. But, if you’re a politician, you’re immune to the law, plus you get reelected!
I’ll make this short and sweet. Any ordinary person out there that has done what Robert Wexler has done would have been thrown in jail already. But, if you’re a politician, you’re immune to the law, plus you get reelected!
Put it like this. Legistlators, like Wexler, were into cracking down on people who move from another state, yet don’t register their vehicles in the new state. This man is living in Maryland, yet has his cars registered in Florida! How come he’s not being fined for that or worse?
Sorry. Not short and sweet after all!