Nation Notes: Politics

Although George Bush lives in the White House and frequently visits his vacation home in Kennebunkport, he pays no income taxes in either Washington or Maine. Instead, the President’s official residence for tax purposes is a rented Houston hotel suite; Texas is one of seven states that have no income tax. In a recent Doonesbury strip, cartoonist Garry Trudeau advised readers to declare their “intention to eventually live in Texas . . . and save big — just like the President.” He included a coupon that could be used to apply for Texas residency.

So far, more than 30,000 people have sent in the forms to state comptroller John Sharp, who is going along with the joke by mailing applicants an “official” Texas-citizenship certificate. But since the certificate alone will not help non-Texans cut their taxes, Sharp advises them to “kiss Aunt Tillie goodbye and move down to God’s own country.”