Tax reduction for (Ben) Nelson on acreage scrutinized (Senator Ne)

[Omaha Steve]

Full story (reg req): http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2218598

Published Saturday
August 5, 2006

Tax reduction for Nelson on acreage scrutinized

BY ROBYNN TYSVER

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A property-tax reduction that Sen. Ben Nelson receives by declaring that the acreage around his Platte River hunting cabin is used primarily for agriculture is coming under scrutiny.

Sarpy County Assessor Dan Pittman said he plans to look over Nelson's 90-acre, wooded acreage next week.

If Pittman finds no evidence of agricultural use, the Democratic senator could be forced to repay about $14,000: three years in back property taxes, with interest.

Nelson's Senate office said he wasn't available to comment Friday. Marcia Cady, Nelson's campaign spokeswoman, said the senator raises wild turkeys on the heavily timbered land south of Gretna.

"He gets them when they're small, feeds them, grows them and releases them," Cady said. She said she did not know what he fed the turkeys, how many he purchased each year or where they were purchased.

Cady acknowledged that the primary use for the cabin Nelson built in 2001 was not for raising turkeys.

"The primary use of the land is to have a place where the senator can go and have the land in its natural state," she said.

Nelson is seeking re-election against Republican challenger Pete Ricketts.

Cady charged that the Ricketts campaign had sought to pressure Pittman, a Republican, into launching an investigation.

Pittman denied that.

He said that, following news coverage about Omaha home valuation protests by both candidates, a number of people came to his office to research the records. He said he believes these people had connections to each of the campaigns.

"I have never felt coerced by either side. That's the truth," Pittman said.

He also said that, in his opinion, raising wild turkeys on the Nelson property would not meet the agriculture requirement for the tax reduction.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Does the senator raise wild turkeys, feed them, and release them

just prior to hunting season? Otherwise, why would he be 'raising' WILD turkeys?

[WhiteTara]

2. raising wild turkeys is an oxymoron

not possible. Let's see, first he has to catch them, get them to breed in captivity (rendering them no longer wild) or he buys them (no longer wild). Sounds like Ben Nelson is showing another side of his DINO self...cheats like a republican.

[sendero]

3. If he's not selling..

.. or somehow deriving income from the turkeys, then in most states he would be ineligible for an Agricultural Exemption.

But the fact is, this exemption is WIDELY abused here in Texas, and probably just about everywhere else.