The Senate Finance Committee's vetting process of former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D. ) for Secretary of Health and Human Services may have hit a snag due to recent reports that Daschle failed to pay some of his taxes since 2005.
According to the Senate Finance Committee, Daschle recently filed amended tax returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007 reporting $128,203 in additional tax and $11,964 in interest. The adjustments resulted from additional income for consulting services and the use of a car service, and reductions in charitable contribution deductions.
Daschle filed the amended returns voluntarily after Obama announced his intention to nominate the senator to be HHS Secretary. The presidential transition team identified the charitable contribution issue and Daschle self-identified the income adjustments, a Committee statement said.
According to the Senate Finance Committee, Daschle paid his long-time personal accountant to prepare his original and amended tax returns for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. All returns were filed jointly with his spouse.
A spokeswoman for Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said he and Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) believed the vetting process for Daschle "has been handled the same way it has for every nomination considered since 2001."
"The vetting process has been handled in a confidential manner until committee members were apprised of its findings. Senator Grassley has honored this confidentiality. The public's business ought to be public, and committee members must weigh all the facts of a nominee's record," she said.
The White House issued a statement last Friday acknowledging Daschle's tax violations and amended tax returns, and does not expect the violations to hinder Daschle's appointment.
In general, a large number of key healthcare stakeholders seem to favor Daschle as a bipartisan team player and healthcare reform advocate. Yet, others argue Daschle's tax violations are an indication that it's "business as usual" in Washington.
In response to Daschle's nomination in November, William F. Jessee, MD, president and CEO of the Medical Group Management Association said Daschle "combines substantive knowledge of the issues with the political acumen necessary to confront the challenges of healthcare reform. He is clearly the right person at the right time to lead the president's team."
The Senate Finance Committee was scheduled to meet Monday evening to continue reviewing Daschle as a candidate for HHS Secretary.
Daschle has also been tapped to be the healthcare advisor to the White House.