Press release
PENN YAN—Democrat Tracy Mitrano has called out her opponent for attacking a small religious community as not paying taxes, noting not only that it’s not true but that the record shows Tom Reed is routinely late in paying taxes on his own properties.
In a 2018 meeting with constituents, Reed is heard saying that “right now right in our backyard we have a growing Amish and Mennonite population. They are not subject to many of the laws of the land as many of us are subject to on a regular basis because of their legitimately held religious beliefs.” Reed cited taxation policy as an example of laws the two groups aren’t required to follow the way other citizens are. “I've heard this argument that ‘Because the Amish folks don't pay their fair share in taxes, me, as a somebody who lives next to them has to pay more taxes, so therefore I'm adversely impacted by their exercise of their religion freedom.’”
Mennonites do pay into Social Security if they work for a non-Mennonite employer, said Mitrano. But they don’t claim their benefits, so they never get back what they put into it. Likewise, they pay school taxes even though not all of them use public schools.
“They pay every other form of tax: local, state, federal, income, property,” she said. “Now, how can you be a congressman for eight years and show your resentment because you think someone is getting away with something? And he's wrong! But that's the attitude, even as he continued to pay his own taxes late.”
A review of tax records in Steuben County, where Reed lives, shows he has been late in paying taxes on his primary residence in Corning and his vacation house in Pulteney. He was repeatedly late paying property taxes on three other buildings in Corning and another in Bath Village as well.
A review of tax records in Steuben County, where Reed lives, shows he has been late in paying taxes on his primary residence in Corning and his vacation house in Pulteney. He was repeatedly late paying property taxes on three other buildings in Corning and another in Bath Village as well.
Reed also avoids payroll taxes by claiming that only one of his campaign staff members is an employee, while designating the others as paid “consultants.” Payroll taxes fund Social Security and Medicare.
“He uses methods of paying his campaign people that are below the New York State Compensation Bord standard for employing people, so that he can avoid paying payroll taxes,” Mitrano said. “Then you look back and see a long record of a man who has delayed paying his taxes, time and time again. You get the picture of someone who sits on the important Ways and Means Committee who is not committed to basic rules of citizenship, where you pay your taxes for the common good.
“This is not someone committed to Social Security,” she added. “This is not someone committed to Medicare. We're trying to show a lifelong pattern and a mentality and approach, so if people are asking, ‘Is my Medicare and Social Security safer with Tom Reed or Tracy Mitrano?’ I think the answer is clear.”
Mitrano also slammed Reed for stirring taxpayer resentment against the Amish and Mennonites by framing them as non-contributors.
“He was willing to publicly put the Mennonite community down when he didn't even know the facts, which show that they contribute more than they get,” she said. “And they're a wonderful addition to our community, to the agricultural community. Their work ethic is unparalleled. Their family values are enviable. And the idea that he would put them down because they are a religious minority again speaks to the quality of our current representative.”
