Swann to pay taxes on web merchandise
Late last month, the Allentown Morning Call demanded an investigation of Lynn Swann for selling football-related merchandise on a web page without collecting State sales tax on such items as were taxable. Ed Rendell's State Department of Revenue complied with the newspaper's wishes and sent an inquiry to Swann's corporation, registered in California but doing business from Sewickley, as the preliminary stage of an investigation.
Yesterday, Lynn Swann said that he had not been paying taxes on the sales, but if they were now required, he would start paying: "We'll get it cleared up."
A fellow named Christopher Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, gushed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that though this matter probably wouldn't derail the Swann campaign, when taken with other scandals, it would "cause him [Swann] to lose his 'golden boy' luster." I had fun with that at the time, and it's even more humorous now.
Beyond introductions?
Lynn Swann says that he will reform Pennsylvania's tax code, telling the Beaver County Times that the system is unfair to property owners. On Governor Ed's plans to use lots and lots to pay for public education, Swann noted that most school districts have rejected it and Ed had no idea what to propose next.
About Ed's Plan B for funding a new arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins should his offer to build one in exchange for a license to build a Pittsburgh parlor, Swann said it would cost taxpayers' money and a stadium wouldn't go up until 2037. He called he Isle of Capri proposal a "win/win/win" for everyone.
It seems that Swann is starting to move beyond "introductory mode."