| Hat tip to Beavis who posted a similar article on the night shift. |
| Another cabinet appointee with tax problems? Oh well, lucky for us the media and the Senate are so forgiving these days ... |
It remains an open question as to whether this is a "speed bump," as a Democratic Senate ally of Mr. Daschle's put it, or something more damaging. After being defeated in his 2004 re-election campaign to the Senate, Daschle in 2005 became a
Based in New York City, InterMedia Advisors is a private equity firm founded in part by longtime Daschle friend and Democratic fundraiser, Leo Hindery, the former president of the YES network (the Yankees' and Devils' broadcast network).
That same year he began his professional relationship with InterMedia 2005, Mr. Daschle began using the services of Hindery's car and driver. The Cadillac and driver were never part of Daschle's official compensation package at InterMedia but Mr. Daschle -- who as Senate Majority Leader enjoyed the use of a car and driver at taxpayer expense -- didn't declare their services on his income taxes, as tax laws require.
During the vetting process to become HHS Secretary, Mr. Daschle corrected the tax violation, voluntarily paying $101,943 in back taxes plus interest, working with his accountant to amend his tax returns for 2005 through 2007. Mr. Daschle reimbursed the IRS $31,462 in taxes and interest for tax year 2005; $35,546 for 2006; and $34,935, a Daschle spokesperson said, adding that Mr. Daschle had asked his accountant to look into the tax implications of the car and driver five months before Mr. Obama won the presidency.
| Right about the time Obama sent him a signal, I'm guessing ... |