Jim Sinclair’s Commentary

Does anyone see a trend here?

Daschle Fixes Tax ‘Issues,’ Has Obama’s ‘Confidence’
By Robert Greene and Hans Nichols

Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) — Tom Daschle paid back taxes and interest to fix “issues” identified when preparing to be President Barack Obama’s nominee as Health and Human Services Secretary, White House spokesman Bill Burton said.

Obama “has confidence” that Daschle, 61, “is the right person to lead the fight for health-care reform” and will be confirmed, Burton said in a statement today.

The New York Times reported today that Daschle paid more than $100,000 in back taxes and interest, citing “administration officials.” The Times and ABC News said Daschle paid the taxes on the use of a car and driver provided for free by Leo Hindery Jr., a founder of the private equity firm InterMedia Advisors.

Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, and ranking Republican Charles Grassley, of Iowa, will meet on Feb. 2 to discuss nominations, said Carol Guthrie, committee spokeswoman, in a telephone interview.

She declined to provide any further details.

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