Democrat Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado thinks that Americans should pay what he sees as their fair share. Just so long as he doesn’t have to pay it, of course.

Yes, rules are for little people, and it appears that at one point, Mr. Polis didn’t pay his taxes for half a decade.

According to the Washington Free Beacon, Polis — a candidate for governor, God help us — “recently reconfirmed to a reporter in his home state that for at least five years he paid no income taxes at all from 2001 to 2005.”

“The issue resurfaced in a recent debate as Polis is running for governor. The five-term congressman is one of the ten wealthiest members of Congress.”

Polis is sponsoring a bill that would repeal President Trump’s tax cuts, which is quite rich — just like Polis, as it turns out.

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Even though the bill is primarily a quixotic attempt, it earned a tweet from the president.

“A Democratic lawmaker just introduced a bill to Repeal the GOP Tax Cuts (no chance)” Trump tweeted in late May. “This is too good to be true for Republicans…Remember, the Nancy Pelosi Dems are also weak on Crime, the Border and want to be gentle and kind to MS-13 gang members…not good!”

A Democratic lawmaker just introduced a bill to Repeal the GOP Tax Cuts (no chance). This is too good to be true for Republicans…Remember, the Nancy Pelosi Dems are also weak on Crime, the Border and want to be gentle and kind to MS-13 gang members…not good! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018

“I proudly wrote the bill to repeal @RealDonaldTrump’s tax giveaways,” Polis replied. “Simple choice this election: President and GOP lose by cozying up to corporate special interests. We win by standing up for students, public schools, and families. RT if you agree.”

I proudly wrote the bill to repeal @RealDonaldTrump’s tax giveaways. Simple choice this election: President and GOP lose by cozying up to corporate special interests. We win by standing up for students, public schools, and families. RT if you agree. https://t.co/tShVAGuANE — Jared Polis (@PolisForCO) May 28, 2018

However, this didn’t stop reporters from pressing him on why he didn’t proudly pay his taxes.

“You recently introduced legislation that would repeal the Republican tax law, which you say is a giveaway to special interests and corporate welfare,” local CBS reporter Shaun Boyd began during a question-and-answer event for all of Colorado’s Democrat gubernatorial candidates, according to the Free Beacon.

“For five years though, before you entered Congress, you paid no federal income tax and have used onshore and offshore Cayman Island accounts to avoid paying taxes. Critics contend a repeal of that tax reform law would amount to a tax increase of thousands of dollars a year for the average family in Colorado. How do you square, you know, you not paying taxes with raising taxes on middle class families?”

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“Well first of all, I paid a heck of a lot of taxes in the years I made money,” Polis said. “When you don’t make money, you can’t pay taxes, and since I’ve been in public service, my expenses have been greater than my income, and that’s simply the fact, and I think that’s, you know, that’s completely appropriate.”

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“Look, the Republican, convoluted, special-interest tax giveaway actually raised taxes for many Colorado families,” he continued. “You know, for everyone you talk to that it might save a little there’s another family that costs more. Whether it’s not being able to write off losses from floods or wildfires or it’s the fact that they have deductions that they can no longer attribute.”

He continued to talk about how he was going to forgive college debt and other deflections, which didn’t answer the main questions: Why he didn’t pay taxes and why he wants to repeal a program that’s good for Coloradans.

And make no mistake, it is good.

“The newly passed tax bill would generate more money than the sales tax boost proposed by a bipartisan group of Colorado lawmakers earlier this year to fund transportation needs,” stated a Denver Post editorial from when the tax bill was signed into law. “Republicans in the state Senate refused to send that tax increase to voters. But this new revenue would come without that difficult hurdle. Thanks, Congress!”

Thanks indeed, Congress. Keep those taxes low — although you probably can’t get them as low as Jared Polis did.

It’s still unclear whether 2001 to 2005 are the only years he skipped taxes. However, he still says he enjoys paying them, except when he doesn’t.

“That’s why every year, in April, when I pay mine, I feel that same lump in my throat and in my belly as every American,” Polis said from the House floor in 2010. “But I know deep inside that I would not trade it for anything else. And I am proud that I have this opportunity to be able to contribute to this greatest of the great countries and help America continue to be a beacon unto the nations and a light for future generations.”

Right.

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