Solis hits speed bump on spouse's taxes : The Swamp

Posted February 5, 2009 3:19 PM

by Frank James

Hilda Solis, President Barack Obama's choice for Labor secretary, has evidently hit what appears to be a speed bump in her Senate confirmation.

Her hearing was scheduled for today but was postponed following reports that her husband had liens against his auto repair business for unpaid taxes.

An excerpt of the USA Today which broke the news:

WASHINGTON -- The husband of President Obama's Labor secretary nominee paid about $6,400 Wednesday to settle tax liens that had been outstanding for as long as 16 years against his business, the Obama administration told USA TODAY this afternoon.

The disclosure came shortly before a scheduled 2 p.m. meeting of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which will vote on Rep. Hilda Solis' nomination as labor secretary. The hearing was postponed; no reason was immediately revealed.

Los Angeles County records showed 15 outstanding state and county tax liens against Sam Sayyad and his auto repair business, totaling $7,630. Two other liens worth $981 were released in 1999 after Sayyad repaid the taxes owed, according to county records.

This case is obviously different than the prior three tax instances of Obama nominees who've run into trouble over their taxes. With Treasury SecretaryTimothy Geithner; Tom Daschle, who withdrew his nomination for Health and Human Services secretary, and Nancy Killefer, who quit as chief performance officer, the taxes involved were their own.

But Solis is not connected with her husband's business. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs noted this difference at this afternoon's briefing:

Well, I read the story in USA Today, and it quotes somebody that works here, so obviously we've -- we know about this story. I'll say this. We reviewed her tax returns, and her tax returns are in order. The story denotes that her husband had some issues with paying a business tax, and obviously that tax is -- should be paid.

She's not a partner in that business. So we're not going to penalize her for her husband's business mistakes. Obviously, her husband, I think, has and should pay any taxes that he owes.

(Photographer: Mannie Garcia/Bloomberg News)

Comments

Again?

Posted by: John W. | February 5, 2009 3:25 PM

Lets hope not another tAX CHEAT, The White House has one too many already.

Posted by: Inky | February 5, 2009 3:28 PM

I guess that makes Cheney gay.

Posted by: bill r. | February 5, 2009 3:41 PM

If all the Dems keep paying back taxes we may not need that stimulus bill.

Posted by: vla | February 5, 2009 3:52 PM

Do ANY of these people pay their taxes?

Posted by: Jeff | February 5, 2009 4:09 PM

Solis's appointment should not be held up for a few very old, relatively small, and undoubtedly forgotten liens against her husband's body shop dating back to well before Barack Obama was even in public life. Any attempt on the part of opportunistic Republicans to take advantage of the climate created by Daschle and Geithner to try and sink Solis ought to be mocked.

Hey, while we're at it, why don't we take a look at the taxes of every Republican member of Congress. I would not want that can of worms opened. Glass houses, folks...I hope the Repugs keep up this crap because I can't wait to wake up one day and see members of the anti-tax Repug congresscritters tax problems all over the media.
You have to hand it to the Repugs, at least they're consistent...at giving us ammo to turn around and smear them with.

Posted by: Hey Joe | February 5, 2009 4:26 PM

Got some hidden issues don't you bill? Your comment is a really odd passive aggressive shot at Cheney or his daughter?
To your ( I think) underlying point that Cheney's daughters sexuality was in conflict with your view of what conservative values are- So Solis and her husband are two separate entities and Solis is not accountable for her husband's tax issue's

Your right- because the additional revenue bought into a household as a result of the husband not paying taxes will never be realized by his wife... how far are you willing to twist things in order to avoid callling something wrong?

Posted by: heartburn | February 5, 2009 4:41 PM

Heartburn....My point is that everyone now seems happy to throw the label tax cheat and that this was her husbands issue. There for if she is a tax cheat because of a family member...than Cheney is gay. Maybe a stretch...but it has been a 3 martini day.

Posted by: bill r. | February 5, 2009 5:06 PM

If we wanted to hear "wrong" all we'd have to do is listen to the whiny tripe coming from what's left of the 4th party gadfly Repuglicans (you) every day.

Posted by: antacid | February 5, 2009 5:14 PM

What?

Posted by: heartburn | February 5, 2009 5:25 PM

Maybe a stretch...but it has been a 3 martini day.

Cheers!

Posted by: heartburn | February 5, 2009 5:31 PM

You heard me, Clown

Now shut off your mom's computer and go turn your AM radio back on. You don't want to miss the latest dittohead marching orders from Grand Wizard Repug leader Rush, do ya?

Posted by: antacid | February 5, 2009 5:38 PM

Is "speed bump" today's Swamp euphemism for Democrat Tax Cheat?

Yet another case of FIFTEEN "honest mistakes!"

Posted by: "Dissent is Patriotic" | February 5, 2009 5:49 PM

Heartburn and antacid need to get a room...

Posted by: lochnessmonster | February 6, 2009 7:03 AM

Man oh man, the tax cheats are oozing out of the woodwork with this new administration.

That's change we can believe in. Yep.

Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | February 6, 2009 8:54 AM

"Posted by: heartburn | February 5, 2009 5:25 PM

Posted by: antacid | February 5, 2009 5:38 PM
Ahhh, name-callling. The last refuge of the person soundly beaten in a debate.

Posted by: Jeff | February 6, 2009 12:24 PM