Washington - D.C.'s Marion Barry says he didn't file his income tax returns because he was distracted by a medical problem, so D.C. Bureau Chief Sam Ford hit the streets to find out what people think of the excuse.

Michael Vaugh, a dialysis patient, questions Council Member Barry's explanation to a D.C. television station Tuesday that he hadn't filed his 2007 taxes because he's on dialysis and that it distracted him.

"I couldn't us it as a reason so I can't support him using it as a reason," Vaugh said.

Longtime Barry acquaintance and dialysis patient, Oliver Johnson, also had questions.

"If you can set on the machine for four hours, three times a week, you can get your taxes done while you're dialyzing," Johnson said.

Council member Barry chaired a hearing today on D.C. Unemployment, but declined to talk about the allegations.

If Barry is a dialysis patient, he joins a growing number in metropolitan Washington. The Kidney Foundation says there are 6,000 dialysis patients in this area - over two times the national average.

But reporter Sam Ford found no dialysis patients who thought their treatment hinders them from filing taxes.

"I've been on dialysis off and on for 17 years, and I'm able to fill out my taxes every year so I don't see why that would be a problem," D.C. resident Robert Brown said.

"I live on Ward 8 and I would just like to see him in the paper for most positive thing," D.C resident Ollie Johnson said. 

Barry told WUSA-TV he has been undergoing kidney dialysis and expects to have a kidney transplant. In the interview, he said there was no excuse for not filing the return but said his health was the reason. Barry's failure to file the return led prosecutors Monday to ask a judge to revoke his probation for his past tax offenses and send him to jail.

Barry was given three years of probation in 2006 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges for failing to file his tax returns from 1999 to 2004.

 Email To Friend