by Frank James
The Senate confirmation hearing for President-elect Barack Obama's choice for Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, has been postponed a week in the wake of revelations that he failed to initially pay Social Security and Medicare taxes and employed an immigrant housekeeper whose work authorization had expired.
Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican, prompted the delay by demanding that the Senate follow its rules and give a week's notice for such a hearing. It was his way of saying " not so fast" and another demonstration of the power the Senate's Republican minority will have to slow down any Obama's legislative juggernaut.
As the Associated Press reports:
President-elect Barack Obama had hoped for Geithner to be approved quickly so he could join other officials in urgent efforts to revive the failing national economy beginning immediately after Obama's own inauguration next Tuesday. Now, Geithner's confirmation hearing isn't scheduled until next Wednesday, with Senate debate and a vote some time after that.
A top Republican objected to a hearing this Friday for Geithner at the Senate Finance Committee after the panel disclosed he failed to pay $34,000 in taxes several years ago.
Still, Democrats and Republicans on the panel voiced strong support for Geithner, who was phoning senators individually to persuade them that his tax problems were the result of innocent mistakes, not deliberate attempts to avoid paying the Internal Revenue Service.
From the AP report it sounds like Geithner still enjoys a large degree of Republican support and that he's still likely to be confirmed, that is unless another shoe drops:
Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the senior Finance Republican, said he was not inclined to oppose a quicker hearing. He planned to meet individually with other GOP members of the panel to see whether they could agree on the Friday session.
"I'm going to see what collective judgment we have," Grassley said.
Several other committee Republicans appeared to be leaning toward backing Geithner. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah called the tax problems "a mistake that a human being can make."
"I'm confident in the man's ability. I think he's a very fine man. I'm not one that holds mistakes against people," Hatch said.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said he'd probably vote to confirm Geithner.
"I think he's a good man. I had a long visit with him," Roberts said. "I think he really knows his stuff."
Geithner has paid back the taxes he owed.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who said he spoke with Geithner for about a half-hour Wednesday morning, said he didn't foresee trouble for the nominee.
"I don't think I see enough in there to cause a problem," Ensign said. "It's very, very easy to make honest mistakes."
Comments
Having illegal housekeepers and nannies used to mean no seat in the Cabinet.
Zoe Baird, Linda Chavez are a couple names I can recall.
Where is the line nowadays?
Posted by: ornery | January 14, 2009 1:01 PM
This simply gives the GOPers on the committee more time to find ammo and build their case to block Geithner. Playing hardball...
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | January 14, 2009 1:43 PM
So Obama's choice, for treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner(D) didn't pay taxes for a few years... William Jefferson(D) didn't pay taxes on the ninety grand found in his freezer either.
What's the big deal...just confirm the guy, he's a democrat.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | January 14, 2009 1:55 PM
So this guy is the genius who will hold the checkbook of the country? I'm not impressed and I certainly don't trust him. If he has nothing to hide why was his meeting with the committe behind closed doors - what else does he have to hide?
Posted by: vla | January 14, 2009 2:57 PM
The news coverage of Timothy Geithner's failure to pay his income taxes raises a couple of issues. 1. He apparently completed his own income tax submissions 2001-03 and "missed" paying SS and Medicare on his self-employment income. The Obama team wants to paint this as an honest mistake. I would have to believe that it is common knowledge for "employees" of the IMF that SS and Medicare is not deducted from their paychecks. I find it hard to believe Geithner made an honest mistake; perhaps he was lazy, inattentive a basic tax liability---- not great attributes for the head of Treasury--- oh yes, the boss of the IRS. Why do I feel America has evolved a political and bureaucratic aristocracy--- folks that operate above the law or regulations of the land? 2. Geithner apparently did not pay his income tax liability until it was put under the spotlight of his nomination. What does this say about his basic character? I have no particular grudge against the man. The Obama team would like us to believe Geithner is an honorable, long serving public servant (no doubt he is) and that we should balance that against these tax issues, among other things. It seems to be rights and wrongs balance out? We all make mistakes--- apparently Geithner made the same mistake repeatedly! I just find it really hard to believe that someone that was the head of the NY Fed doesn't know they are responsible for such taxes.
Posted by: Frank Wild | January 14, 2009 4:02 PM
This guys explanation in unacceptable,no-one forgets to pay tens of thousand of dollars on their income tax. Save the Congress countless hours of debate. Obam should recall his nomination post haste> I for one an sick and tired of the corruption in politics.
Posted by: Paul | January 14, 2009 5:15 PM
This guys explanation is unacceptable,no-one forgets to pay tens of thousand of dollars on their income tax. Save the Congress countless hours of debate. Obam should recall his nomination post haste> I for one an sick and tired of the corruption in politics.
Posted by: Paul | January 14, 2009 5:15 PM
Didn't we just have 8 years of an unaccountable administration, Geithner should be prosecuted and sharing a cell with Wesley Snipes not being nominated for secretary of treasury, if it was you or I surely we would have been hauled off to jail, I say lets nominate Charles Manson to head up the Department of Children & Family Services or Osama Bin-Laden for defense secretary.
Posted by: Sailingwindward | January 14, 2009 8:16 PM
I thought Obama wanted to clean up Washington? Oops, oh yeh, that was McCain. I think this is just another case of the "good old boy" network in action. Washington has become an ever growing swamp of corruption where white collar crime is swept under the rug. Should we really be giving the purse strings of our country to a guy that is either too stupid to know the tax laws or just plain crooked? I think not! Why, do you say, would our politicians give a pass to a guy that broke the law? Maybe it's because most of them have skeletons in their own closets and don't want to throw stones that might ricochet back and hit them.
Posted by: S. Byron | January 15, 2009 10:37 AM