HHS Sec. nominee income tax 'mistakes'

[03cavPA]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1233...googlenews_wsj

By JONATHAN WEISMAN

Tom Daschle, President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of Health and Human Services, paid about $140,000 in back taxes and interest after questions surfaced during the vetting of his nomination, according to documents being prepared by the Senate Finance Committee.

Mr. Daschle made the payments to cover a luxury car and driver provided to him by an investment firm where he was an adviser after leaving the U.S. Senate in 2005, but which he didn't report as income, people familiar with the report said. The payments also covered unreported consulting income and unwarranted charitable deductions. The tax period covered 2005 through 2007.
.................................................

Maybe if we audit the whole establishment, we'll keep uncovering back taxes owed by government officials. It might help fund the stimulus package.

[03cavPA]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l%2Fcomponents

Daschle Delayed Revealing Tax Glitch

By Ceci Connolly, Joe Stephens and R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, February 1, 2009; Page A01

Thomas A. Daschle waited nearly a month after being nominated to be secretary of health and human services before informing Barack Obama that he had not paid years of back taxes for the use of a car and driver provided by a wealthy New York investor.

Daschle, one of Obama's earliest and most ardent campaign supporters, paid $140,000 to the U.S. Treasury on Jan. 2 and about two days later informed the White House and the Senate Finance Committee, according to an account provided by his spokeswoman and confirmed by the Obama administration.

Although Daschle had known since June 2008 that he needed to correct his tax returns, he never expected the amount to be such a "jaw-dropping" sum and "thought it was being taken care of" by his accountant, spokeswoman Jenny Backus said.

.................................................. .......

The disclosure of Daschle's tax problems coincided with the release of the financial statement he submitted to the Office of Government Ethics, which details for the first time exactly how, without becoming a registered lobbyist, he made millions of dollars giving public speeches and private counsel to insurers, hospitals, realtors, farmers, energy firms and telecommunications companies with complex regulatory and legislative interests in Washington.

Daschle's expertise and insights, gleaned over 26 years in Congress, earned him more than $5 million over the past two years, including $220,000 from the health-care industry, and perks such as a chauffeured Cadillac, according to the documents.

In mid-December, Obama's transition team discovered that $15,000 of the $276,000 in charitable contributions claimed by Daschle and his wife over three years lacked proper receipts. But the former Senate majority leader did not mention the larger tax liability until after his accountant had filed amended returns for him.

The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a private session tomorrow to discuss Daschle's tax problems. Daschle, visiting an ailing relative, was unavailable for comment this weekend, and aides refused to release his tax returns.

Meanwhile, the disclosure of Daschle's lucrative ties to private companies with Washington interests have begun to raise eyebrows among those who expected Obama to be wary of relying on wealthy insiders to stock his administration.

"Daschle is the quintessential Washington story. You leave a powerful position, and you leverage it to make a fortune," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit government watchdog group. "He is not alone . . . [and] it would be hard for Obama to fill his administration without ever turning to someone like that. That said, these are the kind of Washington insiders that Obama campaigned against."

The Obama team is "learning that it's easier to campaign on that than govern under it," Sloan added. The problem is that "it looks disingenuous."

In his principal campaign speech on government ethics in June 2007, candidate Obama decried the "morally offensive conduct" of lobbyists and lawmakers who help large industries and special interests exercise "an effective veto on our progress." He singled out the drug and insurance industries for particular scorn, saying that they had pushed for a new Medicare prescription drug benefit and that lawmakers and Bush appointees who made it happen were rewarded with "cushy lobbying jobs that pay millions."

.........................................

This begs the question: if he hadn't been nominated, would he have even acted to correct the "oversight"? He knew about it since June 08.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

This begs the question: if he hadn't been nominated, would he have even acted to correct the "oversight"? He knew about it since June 08.

Probably not. He got caught with his pants down.

Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised if he still gets confirmed. Just the change America needs.

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised if he still gets confirmed. Just the change America needs.

I know some will disagree with me, and start crying about some kind of bias, blah, blah, blah, but didn't BO say he wanted more accountability in his government?

If that's so, why does it take a nomination to a cabinet position to make these people do the right thing? First, it was the Sec. of the Treas., then it's Daschle, and then it will be the next guy.

For the record, I don't for one minute suggest that only Democrats are guilty of tax fraud. I bet we'd find a whole bevy of lawmakers and former lawmakers are guilty of this activity from both parties. We probably wouldn't even have to dig but a few millimeters below the surface to find it out.

Is this the kind of government we asked for and deserve? I'm not seeing a whole lot of difference between this administration and the last one, except they go ahead and approve these guys and give us all the finger while they're doing it.

Heck, they just voted themselves a $93,000 increase in their petty cash funds a couple of days ago. It was on the MSM very, very briefly, now it's nowhere to be found. Yeah, there's some transparency for ya.

[BNaylor]

Same old B.S. with different taskmasters.

I do give one nominee credit that came clean and that was NM Governor Bill Richardson. He was nominated for Commerce Secretary but bailed out in time to minimize the bad publicity and fallout for the Obama administration. Richardson who we all know is a Clintonite is subject to a grand jury investigation over how state contracts were issued to political donors.

Hell, the issue over whether Obama was really born in Hawaii or Kenya is still in the federal court system.

[03cavPA]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...vip-mortgages/

Dodd Says He Will Refinance VIP Mortgages
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd says he sought no special treatment from Countrywide, but will refinance mortgages he received through a VIP program.

AP

Monday, February 02, 2009


HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd said Monday he'll refinance two mortgages he received through a VIP program from Countrywide Financial Corp., which is accused of giving favorable loan terms to some lawmakers.

Meeting with reporters in his office in Hartford, Dodd said he sought no special treatment from Countrywide when he refinanced his Washington and East Haddam, Conn., homes in 2003. He said he would make mortgage documents available for review Monday afternoon.

"I just wanted to put this behind us," said Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

He said he's switching the loans to a new bank because he was wrongfully labeled a friend of Countrywide's former CEO, Angelo Mozilo. A third party will be involved in choosing the bank, he said.

"Let me be very clear. We are not friends of Angelo Mozilo and we have never been a friend of his," said Dodd, who was accompanied by his wife, Jackie, at the news conference. "The first we ever heard of the 'friends of Angelo' list was through press reports last summer."

Dodd has acknowledged participating in a VIP program at Countrywide, which was sold to Bank of America Corp. last year and has been the focus of allegations that it gave favorable loan terms to lawmakers. Dodd said he thought the VIP status referred to upgraded customer service.

He received a 4.25 percent interest rate for his Washington town house, and a 4.5 percent rate on the loan on his East Haddam home.

The Senate Banking Committee has oversight over the mortgage and banking industries. Dodd also played a key role in crafting the $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan, which allows the government to spend billions of dollars to buy bad mortgage-related securities and other devalued assets from troubled financial institutions.

Dodd said the Senate is still conducting an ethics inquiry into the mortgages. He has turned over documents and answered written questions, but has not been called to testify, Dodd said.

And the hits keep coming.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

[url]Maybe if we audit the whole establishment, we'll keep uncovering back taxes owed by government officials. It might help fund the stimulus package.

I love that idea. Even if it doesn't fund the stimulus package, maybe an audit would be the thing to push them towards tax reform.

[HotZ28]

Let me be very clear. We are not friends of Angelo Mozilo and we have never been a friend of his," said Dodd, who was accompanied by his wife, Jackie, at the news conference. "The first we ever heard of the 'friends of Angelo' list was through press reports last summer.

But I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I'm going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never. These allegations are false, and I need to go back to work for the American people. Thank you.

Remarkably similar lies! Have you seen the see the movie "Liar, Liar" with Jim Carrey about an attorney whose child's birthday wish is that for 1-day he can't tell a lie? Corruption is easier, if truth is not on the agenda. The bottom line is; it is extremely hard for lawyers not to lie! Thomas Jefferson –a lawyer himself –said in 1807 that, “It is the business of a lawyer to question everything, produce nothing, and bill by the hour.”

An Observation by Sandra Day O'Connor
"There is no shortage of lawyers in Washington, DC. In fact, there may be more lawyers than people."

The Postal Service just had to recall their latest new stamp issue. Lawyers were part of the design and people couldn't figure out which side to spit on.

Q: What do you get when you cross a bad politician with a crooked lawyer?
A: Chelsea Clinton

Q: What do you have if three lawyers are buried up to their necks in cement?
A: Not enough cement!

[BNaylor]

No wonder we have a distrust for politicians in general. It really doesn't make any difference whether you back the Republican or Democratic Parties. This is really not a partisan issue but an issue affecting all Americans.

Obama promised change and we would assume that promise was made in good faith and or with good intentions, however, he is finding out it is not that easy. Time for a reality check for Mr. Obama. He is getting flack from both the left and right on the issue of ethics in government.

Source: MSNBC/NY Times

Obama's ethics reform promise faces early test
President tries to reconcile ideals of electioneering with actual governing

And so in these opening days of the administration, the Obama team finds itself being criticized by bloggers on the left and the right, mocked by television comics and questioned by reporters about whether Mr. Obama is really changing the way Washington works or just changing which political party works it.

Some Republicans saw a double standard. “What would it be like if Hank Paulson had come in without paying his taxes, or any other member of the cabinet?” asked Terry Nelson, a political strategist who worked for President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain, referring to Mr. Bush’s Treasury secretary. “It would be roundly attacked and roundly criticized.”

Several Democrats, including some who have advised Mr. Obama, said privately that he had only himself to blame for delivering such an uncompromising message as a candidate without recognizing how it would complicate his ability to assemble an administration.

In the campaign, Mr. Obama assailed Washington’s “entire culture” in which “our leaders have thrown open the doors of Congress and the White House to an army of Washington lobbyists who have turned our government into a game only they can afford to play.” He vowed to “close the revolving door” and “clean up both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue” with “the most sweeping ethics reform in history.”

Link to Article

The other big news is Obama plans on nominating New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg a Republican as Commerce Secretary. This will be the third Republican on Obama's Cabinet which so far to date had no major issues denying them any confirmation. Thats a first.

The controversy over Gregg is that the Republicans will lose a seat in the Senate and lose the filibuster capability meaning full power in the U.S. Senate will be in the hands of the Democrats.

However, the Governor will most likely appoint another Republican to serve out the remaining two years of the term which could be good news.

Source: AP

Obama to name Gregg as commerce secretary

Gregg's nomination — and pending Senate vacancy — would mean New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, would have the power to appoint a Senate successor. Republicans feared Gregg's departure would put the seat into Democratic hands, perhaps giving the controlling party a filibuster-proof majority. The Governor could appoint a Democrat, Republican or Independent to take his place.

However, after negotiations with the governor's office, Gregg said Monday in a statement, "I have made it clear to the Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate."

Lynch confirmed the "understanding," though he stopped short of promising to appoint a Republican or an independent to serve out the remaining two years of Gregg's term.

Nevertheless, it's all but certain Lynch will choose a Republican, probably Bonnie Newman. She is a veteran of the Reagan White House who served as Gregg's chief of staff during his House tenure. Under such a plan, Newman would not run in the 2010 election for the Senate seat.

Link to Article

[tenguzero]

As a New Hampshireite, I'm certainly not a fan of losing Gregg -- any threat of further color change in my state scares me (especially when you consider the increasing influence of the clusterf*&$ of a state that is immediately to my south) however, there are also a lot of people here that have some hopes that Sen. Gregg might look favorably upon NH from his federal Sec. of Commerce position

At any rate, I believe this makes 3 Obama nominations that have had to duck out due to tax issues. This is what pisses so many of us off when these douchebags propose more bailouts and tax increases from their holier-than-thou legislative positions -- why the hell should we toil and sweat (and commit our children and their children to the same) to pay out the nose for this BS, when these scumbags are dodging their obligations left and right. Prior minority-leader Daschle is hit for $120,000 in back taxes, he pays it out of his pocket and loses a shot at a cabinet position tough deal but no skin off his back. I can guarantee you if one of us were faced with the same situation, there would be hell to pay.

Like others have suggested -- shouldn't this be the impetus for a complete re-examination of all federal agencies and elected officials? Fire up a big spotlight and see what scurries for the dark corners says I! Seriously though -- I wonder how much waste and bloat is just hanging on the underbelly of our system and weighing it down. Why the hell should we keep paying to fix problems that these people played major roles in facilitating?

[03cavPA]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/firs...ces-secretary/

Daschle Withdraws Nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary


FOXNews.com

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination for health and human services secretary Tuesday, after fielding mounting criticism over his failure to pay more than $130,000 in taxes.

.................................................. ............

DeMint told FOX News that Daschle's failure to pay $134,000 in federal taxes reflects a "problem with integrity" that the government cannot afford to tolerate. DeMint spoke out against Daschle as a number of prominent newspapers, including The New York Times, called for the South Dakota Democrat to drop his bid.

.................................................. .................

The New York Times, in its editorial, complained that Timothy Geithner was already confirmed as treasury secretary despite his tax problems.

"It would send a terrible message to the public if we ignore the failure of yet another high-level nominee to comply with the tax laws," the Times wrote.

Several other newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also called for Daschle to withdraw. Some officials expressed other concerns about Daschle. Politico.com reported Tuesday, for instance, that Daschle was pushing the businessman who supplied him with a free car and driver -- much of the source of his tax woes -- for a job in the Obama administration.

.................................................. ...

Daschle is not the only high-profile nominee to withdraw his name. Bill Richardson withdrew his nomination for commerce secretary amid an ethics investigation in New Mexico.

Obama's pick to be the White House's first performance officer, Nancy Killefer, also withdrew her nomination on Tuesday because of her own tax liabilities, namely a $946 tax lien imposed by the D.C. government for failure to pay $298 in unemployment compensation tax on household help.

Noting the importance of the post, Killefer wrote in her withdrawal letter to the president that "my personal tax issue of D.C. unemployment tax could be used to create exactly the kind of distraction and delay those duties must avoid."

I bet Tom probably withdrew because he was afraid of what more intense scrutiny might uncover. Same for the performance officer nominee. I bet they would have uncovered even more crap on Geithner if they had pushed harder.

Wouldn't surprise me if some enterprising IRS employees started digging on a few more people.

I agree, teng, maybe it's time to fire up the spotlight and see what the rest of these scumbags have in their closets.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Obama promised change and we would assume that promise was made in good faith and or with good intentions, however, he is finding out it is not that easy. Time for a reality check for Mr. Obama. He is getting flack from both the left and right on the issue of ethics in government.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 3) - President Barack Obama is taking responsibility for mistakes in the handling of the tax controversy that led to Tom Daschle's withdrawal as President Barack Obama's nominee to be health and human services secretary, saying: "I screwed up." No shit Sherlock! http://news.aol.com/main/obama-presi...e-taxes/324156

[03cavPA]

I heard a skit on the local radio this morning.

"H & R Barack. You pay taxes so we don't have to."

It was only a matter of time before that one showed up. If this keeps up, his own party is gonna kick him to the curb for exposing all of them.

[03cavPA]

Holy crap. What is it with these people?

http://news.aol.com/main/obama-presi...roblems/331165

Labor Pick's Husband's Has Tax Problems
By SAM HANANEL

AP

WASHINGTON (Feb. 5) - Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis became the latest Cabinet nominee to face questions about unpaid taxes Thursday as a Senate panel abruptly postponed a scheduled vote on her confirmation.
The postponement came after revelations that Solis' husband settled tax liens on his California auto repair business this week that had been outstanding for as long as 16 years.
.................................................. .

I don't care if it's her husband. You sleep with dogs, you get fleas.

[HotZ28]

I like the fact that they file joint personal returns; however, her husbands auto repair business, is none of her business!