"Treasury pick failed to pay taxes; Confirmation impact unclear for Geithner" by Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | January 14, 2009
WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama's pick for Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, failed to pay more than $30,000 in Social Security and Medicare taxes over a four-year period, a revelation that could damage his credibility and hurt his chances for an easy confirmation.
Two years of unpaid taxes were discovered during a 2006 audit by the Internal Revenue Service, and another two years of unpaid taxes were found during a background investigation by Obama's transition team before Geithner was nominated in late November. If confirmed, Geithner would oversee Obama's massive economic recovery package and lead a department that includes the IRS.
Yesterday, Geithner told members of the Senate Finance Committee in a private meeting that he has paid the IRS $43,200 in taxes and interest to account for the lapse, a Democratic official said last night. He also disclosed that he employed an immigrant housekeeper whose legal work status lapsed for the final three months she worked for him in 2005....
No wonder these guys don't want to crack down on illegals; this class benefits from them all the time.
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Some independent tax specialists said that Geithner should have known that he was required to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes when he worked at the International Monetary Fund, which does not withhold the taxes from paychecks of US citizens as happens at most companies.
"He should know better," said Boston University law professor Alan Feld, who specializes in tax law....
An Obama transition official declined to comment publicly about the matter. The transition team instead paraphrased Geithner's portrayal of what happened, asserting that at one point he did his own taxes and did not catch the error, and at another point was misinformed by an accountant....
Are you as SICK of the DAMNED EXCUSES as I am?!!
I'll remember "I didn't know" for when I NEED IT, 'kay?
"Clinton says she would embrace climate, arms treaties; Lays out vision to revitalize US leadership" by Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | January 14, 2009
WASHINGTON - .... The Associated Press reported yesterday that Senator Clinton intervened at least six times on issues affecting companies or individuals that later contributed to her husband's foundation.
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Not a surprise at all.
Related: Hillary Clinton's Corruption
