Rahm's "Lincoln Bedroom"

Rahmbo's questionable housing deal and its tax treatment gets an airing in the Tribune today:

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's Washington lodging arrangements, a rent-free basement room in a Capitol Hill home owned by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn) and her pollster husband, have inspired debate among tax experts and in Republican-leaning parts of the blogosphere.

One issue is whether Emanuel, who served in the House with DeLauro until early January, should have listed the room either as a gift or as income on his congressional financial disclosure forms. Emanuel's disclosure filings contain no mention of his use of the room.

A murkier question is whether Emanuel has a tax liability for the arrangement. The matter may have particular sensitivity in the early days of an Obama administration in which at least four picks for high posts have had confirmations delayed or derailed by tax irregularities.

Tax experts give conflicting views, you be the judge. His co-landlord has been the DCCC's pollster. Rahm's a wealthy man from his plum investment banking days, but more importantly he can't claim ignorance of the law and tax issues. He's been there for five years, hardly a casual guest. Maybe Barack will lend him the Lincoln Bedroom. Of course that might incur an opportunity cost too.