Another Obama nominee didn't pay his taxes

[mattf 5,000+ posts]

He sure does know how to pick them. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

Trade nominee Kirk owes $10,000 in taxes

Ron Kirk, who was Dallas' mayor from 1995-2001, is the fifth Obama nominee to run into tax trouble.

By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Tax Troubles: Take Five opened at the White House Monday with revelations that another of President Obama's Cabinet-level nominees has problems with unpaid taxes.

The Senate Finance Committee announced Monday that Ron Kirk, nominee for trade representative, owes roughly $10,000 in taxes from 2005, 2006 and 2007 for speaking fees he donated to his alma mater.

The former Dallas mayor routinely gave his speaking fees directly to Austin College in Sherman, Texas, instead of accepting them, reporting them as income and paying taxes on them, the committee said. It said he has agreed to pay the debt.

Kirk, a lawyer in private practice, also deducted $17,382 for tickets to Dallas Mavericks basketball games as entertainment expenses but could not substantiate more than 7,000 of the expenses, so he owes $2,600 in back taxes for those expenses, the committee said.

Kirk, who served as Dallas mayor from 1995-2001, is the fifth Obama nominee to run into tax trouble.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Congress | Barack Obama | Texas | White House | Dallas | Dallas Mavericks | Internal Revenue Service | Human Services | Health | Senate Finance Committee | Chuck Grassley | Max Baucus | Tom Daschle | Cabinet-level | Sherman | Kirk | D-Mont | R-Iowa | Campaign Legal Center | Ben LaBolt | Nancy Killefer | Ron Kirk | Austin College | Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who had failed to pay $34,000 in taxes, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, whose husband had roughly $6,400 in tax liens against his business, both were confirmed. Former senator Tom Daschle and former Treasury official Nancy Killefer, nominated for Health and Human Services secretary and chief procurement officer respectively, withdrew their names amid revelations about unpaid taxes.

If he is confirmed as U.S. trade representative, Kirk will serve as the nation's main trade negotiator overseas.

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., who has scheduled a hearing Monday on Kirk's nomination, suggested the problems are not disqualifying.

"Mayor Kirk is the right person for this job, and I will work to move his nomination quickly," Baucus said. "I am confident he can successfully restore the confidence of Congress and the American people in a balanced international trade agenda."

The top Republican on the committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had nothing to say beyond a joint statement he and Baucus issued about the committee's findings. Grassley spokeswoman Beth Pellett Levine said her boss is "reserving judgment."

The White House on Monday characterized Kirk's tax troubles as "minor" and expressed confidence that he will be confirmed by the Senate. "The nomination is on track," spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

Meredith McGehee, policy director for the non-partisan Campaign Legal Center, said the problems the committee found in Kirk's taxes don't necessarily indicate any "nefarious" effort to shirk payments.

But "I'm amazed at how often politicians get tripped up in these two areas" — speaking fees and sporting events, she said.

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[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

oh lawd

 

[bones22 5,000+ posts]

you would think by now they would screen these people better to avoid looking like idiots

although obama isnt directly responsible it makes him look bad

 

[azimuth 5,000+ posts]

you would think by now they would screen these people better to avoid looking like idiots
although obama isnt directly responsible it makes him look bad

if he isn't directly invloved in the vetting process after 3 tax cheats and a dropout at commerce secretary, then i'd say it is partly obama's fault. he should really take a little more control of the vetting process.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

wtmf, I'm going to stop paying my taxes so I can be a politician too

 

[bunkerking09 10+ year member]

wtmf, I'm going to stop paying my taxes so I can be a politician too

QFT

do cocaine in college and become a good public speaker...and your set man lol

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

QFT
do cocaine in college and become a good public speaker...and your set man lol

have you seen some arguments on the floor of congress, you don't even need to be a good speaker //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[bunkerking09 10+ year member]

have you seen some arguments on the floor of congress, you don't even need to be a good speaker //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

I'd love to get into congress and just hold up signs that said stuff like "STFU NEWB!" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif:laugh:

 

[05fronty 5,000+ posts]

doesn't surprise me

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

They release news like that to get people's minds off Obama falling in approval rating polls..yesterday it was Rush .......No one covered the Tea Parties either...interesting.

I wonder how much people will pay in taxes when their electric bill and gas goes up 50% because of "Cap and Trade" all based off consensus information instead of fact. Funny watching greenies march in the snow and freezing tempratures over global warming! Scientific concensus did not predict the right tempratures from 10 years ago until now! Not even close.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

I'd love to get into congress and just hold up signs that said stuff like "STFU NEWB!" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif:laugh:

I would only need one sign, it would say "FAIL" and I would hold it up often

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

QFT
do cocaine in college and become a good public speaker...and your set man lol

You got it wrong though, Bush wasn't a good speaker.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

You got it wrong though, Bush wasn't a good speaker.

Neither is mush mouth Barney Frank

 

[J31Rob 5,000+ posts]

i don't give a fuccccck.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Neither is mush mouth Barney Frank

Barney Frank is not even good in math FYI:laugh: