Daschle Nomination Snagged by Back Tax Problem

By GottaLaff

(Photo: Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times)

Oooops:

President Obama’s pick for secretary of health and human services, Tom Daschle, filed amended tax returns and paid more than $100,000 in back taxes on Jan. 2, administration officials said on Friday.

Mr. Daschle concluded that he owed the taxes for free use of a car and driver that had been provided to him by Leo Hindery Jr., the founder of a private equity firm known as InterMedia Advisors, the officials said. [...]

The belated tax payments help explain delays in the confirmation of Mr. Daschle, a former Senate Democratic leader who had been expected to win swift approval from the Senate. [...]

The official said that Mr. Daschle’s failure to pay the taxes was “a stupid mistake,” but should not derail the nomination. [...]

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, is expected to stand behind Mr. Daschle, a close friend.

Brace yourselves for the usual onslaught.