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Daschle Waited to Tell Obama About Tax Glitch

HHS nominee knew his taxes needed fixing; didn't know how much

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 1, 2009 11:04 AM CST

(Newser) – Health secretary-designate Tom Daschle didn’t tell the Obama administration that he owed years of back taxes until a month after he’d been nominated, the Washington Post reports. He paid $140,000 in taxes January 2 and told government leaders about it two days later. He had known his taxes needed fixing but didn’t know the “jaw-dropping” amount owed and thought his accountant was dealing with it, a rep said.

“The president believes nobody's perfect but that nobody's hiding anything,” said Obama’s press secretary. Meanwhile, a report Daschle submitted to officials shows how without becoming a registered lobbyist, he made $5 million giving speeches and advice to various industries, including $220,000 from health care, prompting concerns that he’s the kind of Washington insider Obama has railed against.

Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle, center, poses with Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee members on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle, center, poses with Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee members on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle delivers his opening remarks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle delivers his opening remarks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Barack Obama introduces former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Thursday, Dec. 11,2008, during a news conference in Chicago.
Barack Obama introduces former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Thursday, Dec. 11,2008, during a news conference in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle, right, smiles as he prepares to testify on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle, right, smiles as he prepares to testify on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
MrBisme
Apr 16, 2009 7:57 AM CDT
A graduated flat tax?! That is absolutely contrary to the whole idea of a flat tax. I would assume that you would be in the low tax rate?
alienvv
Feb 1, 2009 10:17 PM CST
All these innocent mistakes...one after another...such innocent people up there... The question is :are we the "ordinary"people more intelligent so we file our taxes with no mistakes?..
Newser001
Feb 1, 2009 2:49 AM CST
We need a graduated flat tax.

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