Apparently, Timothy Geithner is not the only one who has failed to pay taxes. But, he is luckier than Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer.
Due to concerns over his tax issues and potential conflicts of interests, Daschle has announced his withdrawal from the nomination by President Obama to lead the nation's health-care reform.
Concerns about Daschle's failure to fully pay his taxes from 2005 through 2007 had been growing, even after he paid $128,203 in back taxes and $11,964 in interest last month. It was reported that Daschle also has also failed to pay Medicare taxes, although the actual amount has not been disclosed. There are also concerns about potential conflicts of interests related to his work at a law firm with some health care special interests.
Hours earlier, Nancy Killefer, who was considered to become Chief Performance Officer - a role that is supposed to make our government better, also announced her withdrawal from the nomination. There were concerns that her tax issues might go beyond the unpaid unemployment compensation tax on household help in 2005.
President Obama has promised us a change in Washington politics. With all these issues surfacing up today, I have to ask President Obama a question: "Is your change for better or for worse?"
Also, read this editorial cartoon on CNN's iReport.com.
(Click to see the full sized cartoons.)
What the hack so many VIPs failed to pay their taxes? Shameful!!
ReplyDeleteThe real problem was not what he didn't do (pay taxes on his car and driver), but what he did do (help health care companies lobby Washington).
ReplyDeleteDaschle himself apologized for “the errors that required me to amend my tax returns.”
But throughout all this, however, he offered no apologies for the riches he reaped quite legally by serving the interests of private health care companies.
His financial disclosure report shows that in the last two years, he received $2.1 million from a law firm, Alston & Bird; $2 million in consulting fees from a private equity firm run by a major Democratic fundraiser, Leo Hindery Jr. (which provided him with the car and driver); and at least $220,000 for speeches to health care, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. He also received nearly $100,000 from health-related companies affected by federal regulation.