(LA Times, registration required.) CSX Paid No Income Tax in 2 of Last 4 Years: CSX Corp., the big railroad company headed by Treasury secretary-designate John W. Snow, paid no federal income taxes during at least two of the last four years despite recording more than $1 billion in pretax profits. Over the same four-year period, the company gave Snow $36 million in salary, bonuses, stock and options, and forgave a $24-million loan so he wouldn't lose money along with other shareholders as the company's stock price declined. Although CSX's tax and compensation practices appear to be legal, these and other aspects of Snow's career suggest the man President Bush has chosen to head his revamped economic team may have a lot of explaining to do before he takes the oath of office. [...] Yet even if Snow successfully defends CSX's tax returns and his own take-home pay, other issues are sure to be raised on Capitol Hill. Among them: the cancellation of loans he received to buy company stock, and his sale of CSX shares shortly before the disclosure of financial setbacks.

Good grief.

No wonder Shrubya's nominated this guy. Not only does he clearly believe that the responsibility of the wealthy to contribute to the support of the country that made them wealthy is absolutely zero, but he did the same ethically dubious things with CSX that Shrubya did at Harken. Brothers under the skin and inside the wallet.

The company has made clear its desire to pay the government as little as possible. "CSX will pursue all available opportunities to pay the lowest federal, state and foreign taxes, consistent with applicable laws and regulations and the company's obligation to carry a fair share of the cost of government," the management team said in its 2001 report to shareholders. "CSX also works through the legislative process for lower tax rates." ... According to an analysis of corporate disclosure documents by McIntyre's advocacy group, which posted the results on its Internet site, CSX paid no federal income taxes in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Instead, it received federal rebates of more than $150 million by claiming a number of tax breaks, including accelerated depreciation of equipment purchases.

Apparently, their fair share of the cost of government is zero. In fact, apparently by paying zero, they overpaid their fair share and needed to get money back out of that money they never paid. Who knew?