GOP lawmaker pays late tax bill of over $6K

Rep. David Young (R-Iowa) missed the property tax payment on his D.C. townhouse at the end of last month, incurring a bill of more than $6,000.

Young consequently owed $598 in penalties and $90 in interest when he didn’t pay the $5,980 municipal tax bill for his Logan Circle townhouse in Washington, D.C., by March 31. He ultimately paid the bill in full 23 days later.

The news was first reported by the Omaha World-Herald.

{mosads}Young bought the townhouse in 2008 for $1.275 million. His office said that Young, who has his mail sent to his home in Iowa, accidentally missed the D.C. property tax bill.

“Mr. Young sets a higher standard for himself and he takes full responsibility for this payment due to the government of the District of Columbia. As soon as he realized that it was past due, the bill and late fee were paid in full,” an aide to Young said.

Last week, Young voted for a bill that would make federal tax delinquency a fireable offense for federal employees. However, the measure would not apply to local municipal taxes like in Young’s case, as it only specifies federal tax liabilities.

The bill ultimately failed to pass the House because it didn’t secure the necessary two-thirds majority to advance under the fast-track procedure under which members considered it.

Young has served as a federal employee since 1999 in multiple capacities, most recently as Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) chief of staff. He also worked for former Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.).

Young is one of the top Democratic targets for the 2016 election cycle and has been named a “One Term Wonder” by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The district was previously represented by former Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa).