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8A – Daily News – Tuesday, April 26, 2011 Judge’s partner cited in Prop 8 case SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The sponsors of Califor- nia’s same-sex marriage ban said Monday that the recent disclosure by the federal judge who struck down Proposition 8 that he is in a long-term relationship with another man has given them new grounds to have his historic ruling over- turned. Lawyers for the ban’s backers filed a motion in San Fran- cisco’s U.S. District Court, arguing that Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker should have removed himself from the case or at least disclosed his relationship status because his “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” “Only if Chief Judge Walker had unequivocally dis- avowed any interest in marrying his partner could the parties and the public be confident that he did not have a direct per- sonal interest in the outcome of the case,” attorneys for the coalition of religious and conservative groups that put Proposition 8 on the November 2008 ballot wrote. They are now asking the judge who inherited the case when Walker retired at the end of February to vacate Walk- er’s August 2010 decision. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals already is reviewing the legal merits of Walker’s ruling at the request of Proposition 8’s proponents. Lawyers for the two same-sex couples who successfully sued for the right to marry in Walker’s court were reviewing the motion and did not have immediate comment. Walker, a 67-year-old Republican appointee, declared Proposition 8 to be an unconstitutional violation of gay Cal- ifornian’s civil rights last summer. He retired from the bench at the end of February. Rumors that the judge was gay circulated during the 13- day trial that preceded his decision and after he handed down his ruling. Lawyers for Protect Marriage, the coalition of religious and conservative groups that sponsored Proposition 8, how- ever, have not previously raised his sexual orientation as a legal issue. Protect Marriage general counsel Andy Pugno said that changed when the judge this month told a group of court- house reporters about his 10-year relationship. The issue is not that Walker is gay, but that his relationship status made him too similar to the same-sex couples who sued for the right to marry, Pugno said. “We deeply regret the necessity of this motion. But if the courts are to require others to follow the law, the courts themselves must do so as well,” Pugno added. Walker said at the time that he did not consider his sexu- al orientation to be any more a reason for recusal than anoth- er judge’s race or gender normally would be. IRS begins enforcement of new return preparer rules The Internal Revenue Service is taking steps to stop tax preparers with criminal tax convictions or permanent injunctions from preparing tax returns. This is just one of sever- al recent moves to improve the quality and oversight of the tax preparation indus- try. More than 700,000 tax preparers nationwide have registered with the IRS and obtained Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs). This nine-digit number must be used by paid tax return preparers on all returns or claims for refund. Paid preparers must renew their PTINs annually to legally prepare tax returns. "We owe it to all tax- payers and the many hon- est tax return preparers to remove the relatively small number of bad actors from the tax preparation indus- try," said Doug Shulman, IRS Commissioner. "Just one unscrupulous tax return preparer can cause a lot of financial damage to both taxpayers and the tax system." By comparing the new PTINs with a database managed by the IRS’ Office of Professional Responsibility, the IRS was able to identify 19 tax preparers who applied for PTINs and either failed to disclose a criminal tax conviction or have been permanently enjoined from preparing tax returns. A permanent injunction is a court order used by the Department of Justice to stop a preparer who repeat- edly prepares erroneous or fraudulent federal tax returns. The IRS sent letters to all 19 individuals propos- ing revocation of their PTINs. Preparers facing revocation have 20 days to file a written response and provide supporting docu- mentation as to why their PTIN should not be revoked. With the end of the tax filing season, the IRS also will initiate a review of tax returns that were prepared by a preparer who used an identifying number other than a PTIN, did not use any identifying number, or did not sign tax returns they prepared. The agency will send notices to those preparers who used improper identifying num- bers. The IRS is also pilot- ing methods to help identi- fy returns that appear to be professionally prepared but are unsigned by the preparer. "Hundreds of thousands of tax return preparers, the vast majority, play by the rules every filing season. The IRS is committed to ensuring they have a level playing field," Shulman said. "Compliance with regulations that require the signing of a tax return by a paid preparer and use of the PTIN is central to our enforcement effort." The IRS is still register- ing approximately 2,000 preparers a week. Anyone who prepares for compen- sation all or substantially all of any federal return or claim for refund must reg- ister for a PTIN and pay a $64.25 annual fee. The PTIN registration is the first step in a multi- year effort by the IRS to provide standards for and oversight of the tax prepa- ration industry. Starting Dr. Andrew PomazalD.O. Physician & Surgeon General Medicine Saturday Appointments Available • High Blood Pressure • Diabetes • Joint & Muscle Pain • Lung Problems We offer Osteopathic Manipulation 8049 Hwy 99E, Los Molinos, CA We Accept EBT “Your Family Supermarket” We appreciate your business - and we show it! HOURS: 7AM - 9 PM DAILY BLACK CANYON ANGUS BEEF WE FEATURE SPECIALLY CUT MEATS AT NO EXTRA CHARGE Pork Ribs (Bone-In) Country Style Prices good April 27 thru May 3, 2011 Meat Specials $699 New York Steaks Boneless Beef $179 lb. Juicy Whole Seedless Watermelons $ 2 for or Charmin 12 ct. Double Rolls Bounty 6 ct. Towels $699 Sara Lee Whole Grain White or 100% Wheat Bread 20oz. $ 2500 for Liquor Special Budweiser, & Coors 30 pk Beer $1899 +CRV + tax Produce Specials Cello Head Lettuce 900 79¢ Detergents 50oz. - 57oz. $599 Tostitos Tortilla Chips 9 - 13oz. $ 2400 for ea. Grocery Specials Tide Clorox Liquid Bleach 82oz. - 96oz. + tax $169 8 piece Chicken with Fried Jo Jo’s $ 699 + tax lb. 384-1563 WE ACCEPT FOOD STAMPS NO CARDS REQUIRED FOR EVERYDAY LOW PRICING OR SALE ITEMS Fresh 530 528-2066 2050 Main St, Red Bluff Accepting New Patients Fairgrounds, RB MERLE HAGGARD “Best of Fryers” Chicken $179 lb. Tropical Mangos $1000 10 for Live Concert, May 5, 2011 Historic State Theatre, Red Bluff, CA TICKET OUTLETS: RED BLUFF: Sparrow Fine Arts, 644 Main St; Crossroads Feed & Supply, 595 Antelope Blvd. INFO: 1-866-443-3527 this fall, certain paid pre- parers will be required to pass a new competency test. The IRS will also con- duct background checks on certain paid preparers. Additionally, expected to start in 2012, certain paid preparers must have 15 hours of continuing educa- tion annually. Certified public accoun- tants, attorneys and enrolled agents are exempt from the competency test- ing and continuing educa- tion requirements because of similar professional standards already applica- ble to those groups. Super- vised employees of these exempt groups also are generally exempt. More information about paid tax return preparer requirements is available at www.IRS.gov/ptin. 9th Annual FIBER ON THE FOOT Natural Fiber Producer’s Liverstock Show & Fiber Festival May 7, 9 to 5 * MEAT BONANZA May 13th 8am-5pm