Lawmaker caught taking tax benefit she didn't earn

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives was recently caught taking a tax benefit that she does not appear to be entitled to. 

The lawmaker, according to the New York Post, is U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

This comes as Slotkin is looking to advance in politics by running for a U.S. Senate seat.

The Post has done some research on Slotkin, and what it has found is a bit surprising - especially for the average American taxpayer.

"100% property tax exemption"

The Post has found that Slotkin has been claiming a property tax credit that she ought not to be taking.

Per the outlet:

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic contender for an open US Senate seat in Michigan, takes a farming tax credit at her home, but the property has no farming licenses or agricultural activity, The Post can exclusively report.

The property in question is located in Oakland County, a rural part of the state. According to the Post, Slotkin - along with her brother - received the property, in May 2023, as a gift from her father.

The Post reports:

The home is classified as “agricultural-improved,” a designation given to any “improvements, buildings, structures, or fixtures suitable for use in farming which are located on agricultural land.” As a result of this designation, the home receives a 100% property tax exemption.

It received this exemption despite the fact, according to the Post, that "there are no applicable agricultural licenses in effect on the property." The outlet notes, "Aerial shots of the property show a single-family home, woods and fields — but no farming."

"Phony politician"

At the time of this writing, Slotkin, herself, has not responded to the Post's report. But, her campaign has.

"Rep. Slotkin’s farm has been in her family for three generations since 1956. It has been agricultural since then and Oakland County has confirmed on multiple occasions that the property qualifies for the agricultural exemption," a campaign spokesperson said.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also released a statement on the matter. Spokeswoman Maggie Abbound has put out a statement blasting Slotkin.

"Phony politician Elissa Slotkin is lying to Michigan voters and pretending she is a farmer. Slotkin also lied about her ‘living arrangement’ at a lobbyist’s house, so this is not a surprise," Abbound said.

Here, Abbound is referring to the fact that, during her 2022 campaign for Congress, Slotkin moved into an apartment in Lansing with lobbyist Jerry Hollister.