Gee what a shock, B Hussein Obama, who used to pal around with terrorist Bill Ayers, racist Jeremiah Wright and the like, choosing yet another criminal for his administration. Change we can believe in! At least the Bush and Clinton administrations were subtle about their crooked ways.
White House: Daschle Had ‘Tax Issues,’ Shouldn’t Bar His Cabinet Confirmation
The news of Health and Human Services Department nominee’s tax troubles comes on the heals of an uproar over the tax troubles of Obama’s treasury secretary
The White House has acknowledged that former Sen. Tom Daschle, President Obama’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, had “some tax issues,” which, the administration says, have been resolved and shouldn’t bar his confirmation as secretary.
FOX News confirmed that Daschle alerted the Senate Finance Committee, which will oversee his confirmation hearing, that the matter involves more than $100,000 in back taxes and interest for a car and driver that was provided to him for four years by Leo Hindery, a wealthy Democratic donor and longtime friend of Daschle’s.
Daschle incorrectly assumed the use of the car and driver was not subject to taxation. But the White House says he discovered the error during preparation for his confirmation and filed amended tax returns with the proper payment and interest.
The White House issued a statement Friday night affirming that Daschle “is the right person to lead the fight for health care reform.”
“Senator Daschle brought these issues to the Finance Committee’s attention when he submitted his nomination forms and we are confident the committee is going to schedule a hearing for him very soon, and he will be confirmed,” it says.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee’s chairman, has scheduled a closed-door meeting with committee members to discuss the matter before proceeding with Daschle’s confirmation hearing.
The news comes on the heals of an uproar over the tax troubles of another one of Obama’s Cabinet nominees. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was confirmed this week after apologizing for failing to pay $34,000 in taxes on time, an error that he said was a “careless” mistake.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office released a statement Friday strongly backed Daschle despite the new revelations.
“Senator Daschle will be confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Reid spokesman Jim Manley said. “He has a long and distinguished career and record in public service and is the best person to help reform health care in this country. Senator Reid looks forward to a swift hearing and is confident Daschle will be confirmed.”
A spokeswoman for Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee, issued a statement Friday acknowledging that the committee’s vetting process had turned up the tax violations, though she did not say whether Grassley had taken a stance yet on the matter.
Article on FOX News
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