Husband's Tax Trouble Snags Labor Nominee

Is another Obama nominee in trouble? A Senate panel today postponed a vote on his nominee to be labor secretary, Hilda Solis, after USA Today laid out her husband’s tax problems. The newspaper reported today that Sam Solis paid $6,400 to settle liens dating back 16 years against his business. Shortly afterward, the committee said it would give the administration time to investigate.

It’s not clear if the information is a deal-killer. “She’s not a partner in that business,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. “We’re not going to penalize her for her husband’s business mistakes.” A statement from the Senate panel, headed by Ted Kennedy, suggested Solis might survive, Reuters notes: “We will continue to work together to move this nomination forward as soon as possible.” (More Hilda Solis stories.)