Harris Asks to Step Down From Leadership Posts
Justin Harris is requesting to step down from his committees, but is not resigning
Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork, requested to leave his position as the vice chairman of the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Committee and the Joint Performance Review Committee, House communications officer Cecillea Pond-Mayo said.
Pond-Mayo said she could not confirm whether Harris’ decision to step down would be effective immediately or if it had to be approved.
More: House Spokesman: Harris Asks to Step Down From Leadership Posts
Meanwhile, more info about the Harris adoption has been uncovered:
It appears the Harrises did not retain the foster/adoption subsidies from the state of Arkansas, as explained below. However, the Harris family may have received another, more significant financial benefit as a result of adopting the girls: A one-time, nonrefundable federal adoption credit of $12,970 per child in 2013. The couple might have also claimed a federal Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child, which means the Harrises may have saved some $27,970 in federal income taxes as a result of the adoption. Additionally, Justin and Marsha Harris’ overall taxable income may have been lowered by claiming the girls as dependents. In 2013, a dependency exemption was $3,900 per dependent.
Last week, the Times asked Rep. Harris (via Wells, the attorney) whether the Harrises claimed the adoption tax credit and whether the children were claimed as dependents for any portion of tax years 2012, 2013 or 2014. We have not gotten a reply to those questions so far.
