[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 65 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     AMERICANS MUST BE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY BY IRS

  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about America. In 1981 Mr. 
Menier bought a small aviation company. No one told him when he bought 
that company they owed aviation fuel taxes that were unpaid for 4 
years. One day the IRS showed up and demanded $3 million immediately 
from Mr. Menier. Mr. Menier says, ``My God, I didn't even know that 
this company owed these taxes. No one told me. I only paid $435,000 for 
the whole company.'' The IRS said, ``Sorry Mr. Menier. Who's kidding 
who? You have got to prove it, buddy. We don't believe you.'' They 
grabbed the company, grabbed his private checking account. His wife was 
bedridden for 12 years with muscular dystrophy. He had a 97-year-old 
mother living with him, and three kids. They garnished his check, and 
left him with $96, Congress. He could not get a bank loan, and he went 
bankrupt.
  Shame, Congress, shame. People like Mr. Menier are being ripped off 
every day. Discharge Petition No. 12 says if the Son of Sam is innocent 
until proven guilty, so is Mr. Menier on that $3 million in back taxes 
he supposedly owes.

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