[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 SECRETARY CISNEROS SHOULD MAKE PUBLIC COPIES OF GIFT TAX RETURNS FOR 
                           YEARS IN QUESTION

  (Mr. SENSENBRENNER asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros had a 
reason to lie to the FBI when he told them that he never gave his 
former mistress more than $10,000 a year unless he filed gift tax 
returns reporting higher payments. Federal tax law gives individuals a 
$10,000 annual exemption from gift taxes to a single donee, or $20,000 
if the donor's spouse joins in the gift.
  Secretary Cisneros ought to make public copies of all gift tax 
returns for years he gave his former mistress more than $10,000. If he 
fails to do so, the Attorney General should broaden her request for an 
independent counsel to look into possible tax law violations by 
Cisneros.

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