"Former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, said he is "deeply embarrassed and disappointed by the errors that required me to amend my tax returns," in a letter dated Monday to the senior Democrat and Republican on the Senate Finance Committee that was provided to CNN.
"I apologize for the errors and profoundly regret that you have had to devote time to them," Daschle said in the letter to Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Montana, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
Daschle has been nominated by Obama to be secretary of Health and Human Services.
A committee memo obtained Friday by CNN indicates committee members want to discuss the use of a car and driver that Daschle didn't disclose on his income taxes, and nonpayment of taxes on more than $80,000 he earned in consulting fees after leaving the Senate.
Daschle emphasized to Baucus and Grassley in the letter that "My mistakes were unintentional.""
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The only thing Tom Daschle is "disappointed" about is that he got caught cheating on his income taxes, emphasis on the "got caught" part of that sentence.
Several of President Obama's nominees have now had tax or other financial problems. It would seem that the difference between Republican and Democratic political types is that the Republicans steal/cheat on a grander scale.
And now we have the sorry spectacle of senators insisting on continuing to back Daschle's nomination from sheer "clubbiness."
Daschle should relieve the president of this embarrassment by withdrawing his name from consideration. Failing that, President Obama should withdraw Daschle's name.
If that does not happen, the whole "change we can believe in" business goes right out the window. pl
I second that Col! See Greenwald's piece on him. Look for Matt Tabbi's "cheeseburger" comment.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/
Posted by: jonst | 02 February 2009 at 08:17 AM
I couldn't agree more. You are so right. Daschle has embarrassed his president, and should have the grace and guts to admit it and withdraw. I felt the same way about the new treasury secretary. I'm a strong Obama supporter, but he needs to set the proper example here, and quickly.
Posted by: Leanderthal | 02 February 2009 at 09:24 AM
Col. Lang,
I can't keep up with the rules on these no-tax-paying scandals. Some get ensnared and are dropped (Daschle?, Richardson); some are ensnared, but not dropped (Geithner); and some are sorta left alone but with big question marks (Hillary/Clinton foundation??).
My cynical side says that most of the prominent gov players have tax problems in their pasts and yes, I thought this issue was that oncea convenient or, rather inconvenient disqualifier for office....except when it isn't for the truly special....Geithner. HA!
The average taxpayer that hates (or will come to hate) TARP and its forthcoming sequels, are watching... The rich and powerful have been exposed -- they don't play fair. Gov officials with Taxes unpaid, executives with bonuses from taxpayers, jets all around.
"They'll" try to make an example of Daschle perhaps to compensate for moral hazard created by Geithner, but I don't buy it at all. Hypocrisy for all of congress that voted for Geithner and who will now turn and scold Daschle (they will and he'll be symbolically punished)
How about a tax audit for all of congress, in addition to incoming appointee nominations?! Boy, would these hypocrites howl!!!
Posted by: charlottemom | 02 February 2009 at 09:24 AM
What happened to the days when the IRS would put tax evaders in jail?
If these folks don't have the decency to fall on their own swords, then we should bring back the pillory and expose them to public humiliation (and maybe a few volleys of tomatoes).
Real quick, that would clear up the "inattention" that led to the "unintended" behavior.
Posted by: JohnH | 02 February 2009 at 11:06 AM
In the news
Obama stands by Daschle nomination....
CA has no money to payout taxpayer rebates...IOus to be dispensed...
Non taxpayers slated to received tax "rebates" in Maximus Stimulus proposal....
More taxpayer money for financials...
Message received: only fools pay their taxes.
Posted by: charlottemom | 02 February 2009 at 11:28 AM
Gosh this audience is harsh. He did not receive a 1099 from the employer and owner of the limo. Required under law. His cpa preparing the return had no idea because there was no tax document identifying the transaction. Very easy to screw up. These are unusual transactions---that we don't have enough info on why they weren't reported. Should that automatically end your public career? Is it an example of how screwed up/difficult the tax system is? I'm far more concerned about the corps that are holding their earnings offshore in tax havens to evade taxes--or the hedge fund owners who got a multi billion dollar break on their earnings. Let's keep things in perspective.
Posted by: hope4usa | 02 February 2009 at 11:49 AM
Jesus, what a f***ing surprise!!!
Inside the beltway elites cheat on taxes....
I'm SHOCKED, SHOCKED...
"Hope and change" from the demcong.
Posted by: graywolf | 02 February 2009 at 12:22 PM
Colonel,
So much for Obama's 'change we can believe in' stuff.
Obama says 'absolutely' standing by Daschle
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/02/america/Obama-Daschle.php
Posted by: J | 02 February 2009 at 01:17 PM
Pat, You're right that at the center of our disgust/disappointment is the overblown promise of "change we can believe in".
Expectations for this administration were WAY too high from the get-go. Now it's time for reality to settle in.
What the president meant to say was "business as usual" now that the votes are cast.
There is no doubt that Tom Daschle would make a good secretary, nor that Bill Lind would be a good DEPSECDEF, but the president PROMISED us, with a great deal of fanfare, that this administration would be different. So some of you are going to be disappointed, but all of us need to get over it.
Don't even get me started about the bi-partisan stimulus package!
Posted by: feocito | 02 February 2009 at 01:32 PM
graywolf
you don't think they should be punished when they are caught? pl
Posted by: Patrick Lang | 02 February 2009 at 01:36 PM
I think that Daschle should receive the same treatment that I would receive for not reporting income: criminal prosecution.
BUT, there is one set of rules for the "governing class" and another for the rest of us.
BTW, it's not a Republican or Democratic thing.
It's the "rulers" vs. the "peasants."
Look at how Geithner waltzed in.
Posted by: graywolf | 02 February 2009 at 02:19 PM
What's wierd is that I don't recall any such scandals at the beginning of the Bush II administration, and they *had* to have far more abuses.
Posted by: Barry | 02 February 2009 at 02:20 PM
Colonel,
I propose that all former Congressmen have/are required to serve a 4 year hitch as a sewer cleaner after they leave their Congressional Office. Hopefully after their 4 year required stint as a sewer cleaner, they'll be less inclined to give U.S. all their after-office horse-manure, like what Daschle is doing.
Just a thought.
Posted by: J | 02 February 2009 at 02:24 PM
JohnH -
For there to be criminal prosecution, they have to be able to prove intent to evade or defraud. It is not a strict liability issue. Without intent, they can only collect the missing amount plus penalties and interest.
Posted by: Keith | 02 February 2009 at 02:32 PM
Sorry no mercy. If he vouchered for the income probably no 1099 required. Let's have limit of one tax cheat per cabinet and that one can be Treasury Secretary. Always remember that "Change" and "Reform" are not synonymus.
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 02 February 2009 at 03:09 PM
Ha!
Look at this guardian article today.
Let them eat cake:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/feb/02/tax-gap-avoidance
And we are saving the banks?
Posted by: Cloned Poster | 02 February 2009 at 03:38 PM
I think we should hold the whole government to those high standards.I'd be surprised if there was a handful left in D.C. after the audits were finished.
Posted by: par4 | 02 February 2009 at 03:47 PM
I agree completely.
There should be no place in government for those who subscribe to the Leona Helmsley school of public administration.
And as far as the "he didn't know" argument is concerned, when you get to the point where you can't remember that you're getting many hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of renumerations, then you have no place in government for this day and age.
Empathy for the common citizen needs to be requirement #1 for all civil servants.
Posted by: Cieran | 02 February 2009 at 04:07 PM
Obama's, "change we can believe in" as unfortunately become, "same circus, different clowns."
The man is unfit for office, as were several other appointments by the President.
The IRS should treat him like any other American who tried to evade his taxes.
hope4usa - Daschle was Majority Leader of the Senate and I am sure, well aware of what his was doing.
Posted by: Jose | 02 February 2009 at 04:08 PM
Col
Appointing Rahm Emmanuel to anything at all should have lowered everyone's expectations of a higher standard in appointed government positions. Billary was the icing on that cake.
Justice Dept investigations into Bush Evil Empire goons isn't going to happen and RICO isn't around when you need him. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. McCain would have been throwing the lobster into the pot of boiling water. Obomba has put the lobster in the pot and set the temp to simmer.. we will just go to sleep as the water warms.
Buzz Meeks
Posted by: Buzz Meeks | 02 February 2009 at 04:15 PM
I agree with home4usa, I'm not as concerned about those who didn't pay 100% of their taxes as those who didn't pay any taxes because they have off shore accounts. Also, Daschle won't be facing criminal prosecution and neither would graywolf, he will have to pay the right amt of taxes and possibly a penalty. the sad reality is many hedge on their taxes and it just isn't Democrats looking for a cabinet position, although it seems like it right now.
Posted by: Nancy K | 02 February 2009 at 04:22 PM
Seeing how the guy made millions off this lobbying I find it hard not be be "harsh" when judging him. Plus, $128K is a helluva lot to owe in "back taxes." It's far more than the vast majority of Americans make in a year.
What a jerk!
Posted by: Redhand | 02 February 2009 at 05:03 PM
What worries me about Daschle is his cozy relationship with the industries he'd be required to ride herd on if he were SecHHS.
Unfortunately, as that link suggests, Daschle's coziness with big healthcare, big pharma, and the insurance industry are part of a pattern. The next nominee will probably have a better accountant, but I doubt he'll be any better suited to fixing our healthcare system.
Posted by: Cujo359 | 02 February 2009 at 09:51 PM
Daschle skirted the now loophole-filled Obama "no lobbyist" litmus test because he wasn't "registered", but was acting in an "advisory capacity" when giving speeches and advocating on behalf of the health-care industry, an industry he's expected to "take on" as HSS Secretary. The income tax stuff is routine veniality, but hustling coin from those who mightily oppose MEANINGFUL health-care reform should have been an automatic disqualifier. I mean, what is the bloody point of Obama making a huge thing about "no lobbyists in MY administration, then issuing all these "waivers" that simply opens the door once again to special interest groups who have had the run of the town for decades? "Change we can believe in?? Bollocks.
Posted by: barrisj | 02 February 2009 at 10:04 PM
Withdraw indeed. He’ll need that K street job to pay back the taxes he made on that other K street job. Embarrassed? Second to Bill Frist, that's not embarrassing, that's insulting.
J, I think the other sewer cleaners would insist on someone who could carry his own weight; but at least you did not suggest he be a garbage man. I need mine, unlike doctors these guys come buy the house 52 times a year! Perhaps we should elect some of them to the Senate and House in 2010, they can then do what they do best.
Posted by: FredS | 02 February 2009 at 10:30 PM