正文
Will Tax Troubles Derail Geithner?
Brian Wingfield, 01.13.09, 02:55 PM EST
The issues surrounding Barack Obama\'s choice for Treasury secretary raise questions about the vetting process for his Cabinet nominees.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Barack Obama\'s choice for Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, is running into rough waters as tax- and immigration-related issues threaten to swamp his confirmation hearings.
Geithner allegedly employed a housekeeper whose immigration papers expired while she was working for him. In addition, he allegedly failed to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes when he worked for the International
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., whose committee will hold the yet unscheduled confirmation hearings, said he hopes Geithner--the current president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a major player in the government\'s response to the economic crisis--will be confirmed by the time Obama is inaugurated next Tuesday.
That could prove difficult. The issues surrounding Geithner will undoubtedly draw much congressional discussion and raise questions about Obama\'s vetting process for his Cabinet nominees. Earlier this month, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nominee for Commerce Secretary, withdrew his name amid questions regarding a pay-to-play investigation in his state.
Baucus told reporters Tuesday that Geithner\'s errors were serious but were honest mistakes that do not rise to the level of disqualification. Geithner corrected the problems as soon as he learned of them, Baucus said.
According to the Montana Democrat, members of his panel learned of the concerns several weeks ago and have been using the ensuing time to examine them more thoroughly. Tuesday, he convened members of the committee to discuss Geithner\'s tax and immigration issues, describing the mood in the room as very positive. Baucus said Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the panel, has also aired out the concerns with his staff and other members of the committee.
Grassley\'s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release a report on the issue late Tuesday.
For now at least, Obama is standing by his man, one of his most vaunted Cabinet nominees. The president-elect chose Tim Geithner to be his Treasury secretary because he\'s the right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times, incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement. He made a common mistake on his taxes, and was unaware that his part-time housekeeper\'s work authorization expired for the last three months of her employment.
Brian Wingfield, 01.13.09, 02:55 PM EST
The issues surrounding Barack Obama\'s choice for Treasury secretary raise questions about the vetting process for his Cabinet nominees.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Barack Obama\'s choice for Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, is running into rough waters as tax- and immigration-related issues threaten to swamp his confirmation hearings.
Geithner allegedly employed a housekeeper whose immigration papers expired while she was working for him. In addition, he allegedly failed to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes when he worked for the International
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., whose committee will hold the yet unscheduled confirmation hearings, said he hopes Geithner--the current president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a major player in the government\'s response to the economic crisis--will be confirmed by the time Obama is inaugurated next Tuesday.
That could prove difficult. The issues surrounding Geithner will undoubtedly draw much congressional discussion and raise questions about Obama\'s vetting process for his Cabinet nominees. Earlier this month, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nominee for Commerce Secretary, withdrew his name amid questions regarding a pay-to-play investigation in his state.
Baucus told reporters Tuesday that Geithner\'s errors were serious but were honest mistakes that do not rise to the level of disqualification. Geithner corrected the problems as soon as he learned of them, Baucus said.
According to the Montana Democrat, members of his panel learned of the concerns several weeks ago and have been using the ensuing time to examine them more thoroughly. Tuesday, he convened members of the committee to discuss Geithner\'s tax and immigration issues, describing the mood in the room as very positive. Baucus said Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the panel, has also aired out the concerns with his staff and other members of the committee.
Grassley\'s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release a report on the issue late Tuesday.
For now at least, Obama is standing by his man, one of his most vaunted Cabinet nominees. The president-elect chose Tim Geithner to be his Treasury secretary because he\'s the right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times, incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement. He made a common mistake on his taxes, and was unaware that his part-time housekeeper\'s work authorization expired for the last three months of her employment.
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