Daschle delayed telling Obama about tax problem; earned $200K+ from health industry

[depakid]

Source: USA Today

This morning's reports about Health and Human Services secretary-designate Tom Daschle, his tax troubles and the money he earned in recent years from interests in the health care industry that he would oversee, include:

• A New York Times report that Daschle, "was aware as early as last June that he might have to pay back taxes for the use of a car and driver provided by a private equity firm, but did not inform the Obama transition team until weeks after Mr. Obama named him to the health secretary's post."

• Word in The Washington Post that financial disclosure forms show that "Daschle's expertise and insights, gleaned over 26 years in Congress, earned him more than $5 million over the past two years, including $220,000 from the health-care industry, and perks such as a chauffeured Cadillac, according to the documents." The Times comes up with a larger figure. Daschle earned "more than $300,000 in income from health-related companies that he might regulate as secretary," it says.

• A strong expression of support for the Democratic nominee from one of his former Republican colleagues in the Senate. Politico writes that Bob Dole of Kansas, who like Daschle is a former Senate majority leader, said in a statement: "The one thing I feel certain about is Senator Daschle¹s honesty and integrity. ... I read the record about the tax issues raised, and while mistakes were made they were innocent ones which have been corrected primarily by senator Daschle himself."

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/20...

[HelenWheels]

1. Should have given HHS to Howard nt

[NOW tense]

3. There is a good choice.

[mod mom]

6. Absolutely. We need folks like Dr Dean, who has the integrity to put people before profit.

[rvablue]

64. And still should. Given these developments Daschle should bow out IMO. n/t

[Joe Bacon]

78. If we can't have Dean, let's get Krugman to HHS!

Nothing could send a clearer signal that Obama is serious than naming Krugman to head HHS!

[Jakes Progress]

92. From your mouth to God's ears.

Krugman should have been at Treasury. Or how about Bailout Czar?

[yurbud]

90. I would trust Howard more than Milktoast Daschle, who bent over for Repubs as well as insurance

[knixphan]

105. agreed.

[NOW tense]

2. No thanks

Cut him loose.

[FLAprogressive]

4. I bet Rahm was behind picking this winner.

he's gotta have his corporate friends.....

[Thrill]

5. Write your Congressman and tell them to vote AGAINST Daschle

I've been ok with all Obama's appointments. But this guy is weasel. A Fat Cat who lies and thumbs his nose at the IRS. I can't imagine any average joe getting away with this

[mod mom]

13. Done. I wrote both of my senators-one a progressive Dem the other a moderate Republican.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Jayzus, doesn't a character reference from Dole score in the negative column?

Well, the proof is in the pudding, I guess. Let's see what kind of health care plan he ends up putting forward. He has acknowledged the superiority of single-payer, but expressed a theory that Americans wouldn't buy into it. Maybe the game is all changed now with the recession and all the people losing their insurance with their jobs. Maybe there's a new game afoot, and Obama sees Daschle as someone with the cred to put through some surprises.

Maybe.

I'm banking on Obama's combination of wile and strategic thinking here, not on the apparent reality.

[depakid]

11. "Maybe."

More or less my thoughts too.

Except that the nominee has very basic tax and ethical problems that anyone who'd hoped for a minor position in state government wouldn't (or shouldn't) have ignored.

Somehow- as a reasonable person, I can't get past that.

[Jackpine Radical]

19. Not defending the practice, but cheating on taxes seems endemic

among people who make more than a mil or so a year. Kinda hard to find clean ones with no hired-help problems (Zoe Beard & many others), etc., although it really does call you to question their vetting process. Jeez, the papers found it instantly--and they hardly have reporters anymore. (D'oh moment--so somebody leaked it to them, which means that the opposition was already on the job before the announcement).

[depakid]

25. Yep, it's troublesome

Once again, my thoughts too.

Something curious though- as I recall, the vetting process got some press as being- how to say, a bit inclusive (intrusive?) last November.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/Obama_Administration...

Seems to me, we should expect at least that the Secretary of Health and Human Services might abide by it.

[Why Syzygy]

39. I suggest an immediate moratorium on IRS audits for all citizens EXCEPT

elected officials. If even the 10% margin holds, they can get more revenue in a shorter period of time than from all us little people who send payments in every month.

[alarimer]

80. It's not just that he cheated on taxes.

It's that he was taking favors from health care companies. The very same entities he would be in a position to regulate (or not, probably) as Secretary of HHS. THAT is a very real, very troubling conflict of interest.

[Jackpine Radical]

85. I wouldn't dispute that a bit.

[janx]

86. That's it!

We need to learn about the specifics of this.

[Why Syzygy]

93. Agreed.

However, as a taxpayer, I have expectation that the FED who is diligent in collecting monies I owe is just as diligent collecting from my ELECTED representatives.

[knixphan]

106. yes.

totally.

[toopers]

109. This is why we need to change the tax system . . .

the current system is to difficult to manage on all sides. We just need to go to a national sales tax and end this current crappy system.

[xxqqqzme]

108. Ain't that the truth - Congress critters have

a very different definition of honesty & integrity from the rest of us.

[Why Syzygy]

8. Too dirty.

All that would be fine if Bush were choosing. Not for our guy.

I really won't mind seeing him dropped. I will never forget the day he caved on Iraq. I held my breath. For 6.5 more years.

[susu369]

38. I will never forget this

Published on Friday, March 16, 2001
Going Backwards

GW Bush and the credit card/banking industry won a huge victory last night as 36 'Democrats' joined their Republican 'colleagues' and voted to pass S-420 - the Bankruptcy bill.

Consumer groups and unions have been aggressive in opposing it, contending that the changes in bankruptcy law will take away an important means of relief for families hit by job losses. Former President Clinton vetoed last year's similar version, saying it would hurt ordinary people and working families.

-snip-
"Among Senate Democrats who may vote for the bankruptcy bill are Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), whose state is home to a Citigroup Inc. credit card operation in Sioux Falls that employs several thousand people. Daschle has received $45,000 in political contributions from Citigroup in the last six years." -- Washington Post 3/11/01


Full story (including the names of the 36 "Democrats"):
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/hea...

[Why Syzygy]

40. That one came fast.

I don't know that I came to until they screwed Medicare to the wall.

[Runcible Spoon]

56. I won't forget either.

[acmavm]

9. Then kick his ass to the curb. We don't need to start subscribing to the

republican version of what it takes for public service. A successful republican is one who generally has been able to keep his skeletons in the closet.

Apparently Tom agrees with that standard. Dashcle tried to hide his skeletons, but failed. We don't need to operated on that level.

[DailyGrind51]

10. Dump Dasche and put in Teddy Kennedy!

A cancer patient as HHS Secretary, what a concept!

[SharonRB]

74. If only Teddy were healthy enough to take it on,

he'd be an excellent choice. I thought of him immediately, but unfortunately he's probably not up to it.

[SharonRB]

75. Dupe

[Autumn]

12. Why am I not surprised? n/t

[global1]

14. Not Very Trustworthy - Doesn't Blend With President Obama's Style - Dump Him.....

a remnant of old D.C. full of bad habits.

[defendandprotect]

102. Yeah . . . unfortunately no one knew truth about Daschle -- !!!???

Like he hasn't been stinking up the air in the Democratic Party for decades!!

[MannyGoldstein]

15. Obama Wants To Pay Daschle Back For All Of The Staff He Poached

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/12/the_obama...

Which is a good instinct - but Daschle does seem somewhat Clintonian in his dealings.

No thanks.

[Jackpine Radical]

20. Well--shit. There it is. From that 2006 article--

"...many people in Obama's inner circle have close ties to Daschle and would have been put in an extremely tough situation if both men had decided to run. With Daschle out, the way is clear for these experienced campaign hands to focus full-time on Obama -- a boon for the relatively inexperienced Senator as he navigates the tricky waters of a national bid in the coming months. If Obama does decide to run, you can expect a number of other top-level staffers with ties to Daschle to jump on-board the nascent presidential campaign."

[Why Syzygy]

41. And, where would we be with a

Democrat Tax Evader President?

[ixion]

16. Daschle has proven that he is a weasel...I never understood why Obama appointed him

he's a scumbag capitulator, and can take a flying f**k at the moon, for all I care.

[defendandprotect]

22. When is Daschle withdrawing from this job --- ??

[Jakes Progress]

47. It's not about withdrawing.

It's about the billions he'll make when he goes back to his corporate sponsors.

Those corporate asses are very rewarding to those who block legislation and steer money for them. It helps convince future sleaze buckets to do the same.

You have to really lay on the syrup to sugar coat this appointment. Wrong. Just wrong on so many levels.

[defendandprotect]

66. Well, when then is Obama telling Daschle "it's over" . . . ???

Should have been over before it began -- !!!

Howard Dean should have this job ---

[IsItJustMe]

26. Pay for play. The same thing Blago is accused of. The top donors get the cabinet seats. I wish

people would wake the fuck up and realize that this is our political system.

Why else would someone spend millions of dollars for a job that makes a couple of hundred thousand dollars a year.

Public service my ass. People are not in politics for altruistic motives.

[Renew Deal]

17. That sounds like enough to disqualify him.

It's a little dishonest.

[AzDar]

18. Paging Dr. Dean...

[midnight]

55. I love that name and he would be so right for the job.

[defendandprotect]

67. Howard Dean is so obviously the one for this job if you want positive change-!!!

How about we all call in tomorrow on Howard Dean for the job -- and/or e-mail???

[defendandprotect]

21. Howard Dean is the logical choice for getting us Single Payer Health Care . . .!!!

[Why Syzygy]

42. He's done it! He's the only one who has! HOWARD HOWARD HOWARD ..arrrghhhhh

[defendandprotect]

68. Somehow Obama doesn't see that . . . ??? Let's call and write -- !!! Howard Dean, yes!!!

[Why Syzygy]

71. The biggest obstacle, imo, is that the DLC still hates him. nt

[defendandprotect]

88. And ...

we hate the corporate-DLC ...

brutal and destructive in its embrace of corporate-welfare --

[Why Syzygy]

94. And at Obama's right arm

.cracking knuckles in his ear!

[defendandprotect]

100. I think we're supposed to be either too dumb or too loyal to notice . . . quiet, voters sleeping!

[tilsammans]

23. Dump Daschle! Draft Dr. Dean!

Tax Cheat Tommy's gotta go.

[JFKfanforever]

28. I agree 100%

Howard Dean would be sensational, both as an idea man and a
more-than-able administrator!

[glinda]

51. Daily Kos has an argument why Dean would not work out.

Sorry about not posting the link but just go to Daily Kos and read it.

[glinda]

52. I found the link:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/31/215949/065

[depakid]

69. "HHS needs someone who is really good at political infighting"

Well, based on the record that should have excluded Daschle from any consideration- like Vilsack, this seemed to be niothing more than a political patronage appointment. And one that came with a lot of baggage even before these latest instances of poor judgment and corruption "popped up."

Color me unimpressed with the authors arguments against Howard Dean- they're niether coherent nor persuasive. That said- Dean would be wise to stay out of this administration, at least for a couple of years, until the bad apples have shaken out.

[NashVegas]

73. Totally a Load Of Rationalizations

Even if Daschle shoots himself in some part of his anatomy, that doesn’t make Dean next on the list. Dean would not be an ideal HHS head. It’s a sprawling agency with huge administrative duties. Dean's an ex-gov and that’s far more important than his MD, which is nearly irrelevant, but HHS, with CDC and NIH, is a lot more complex than running VT. Huge dollar outlays need to be directed to programs such as vaccine R&D to prepare for the next generation of biomedical advancement. This means close cooperation with industry while simultaneously being responsible for oversight. That's a fine line to walk for anyone.

And what organizational experience does Daschle have, other than his past job as a pathetically inept Senate Minority leader?

[mzmolly]

82. Agreed.

I don't dislike Daschle, and I can understand his tax problem, but the KOS article wasn't exactly compelling.

[mzmolly]

81. Hmmmm.

I didn't find the argument that compelling, personally? Sounded like spin?

[defendandprotect]

101. Yes -- !! Yes -- !!! and YES -- !!! Howard Dean for HHS -- !!!

[IsItJustMe]

24. These bastards are all the same. Aren't they?

[galileoreloaded]

27. Yes they are.

"the only ones that betray you are the ones you trust"

[IsItJustMe]

30. Hate to be cynical here, but no matter who gets in power, it seems like they keep on hiring the fox

guard the hen house. And we know what the fox is going to do as soon as the fox feels no one is watching.

Complete and utter bull shit.

[Faryn Balyncd]

32. Daschle would be the kiss of death for real reform (Single Payer Healthcare-For-All)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[depakid]

34. Not sure about that- but he and his wife sure do lack credibility

perhaps less so on K street than among ordinary, hardworking Americans all across the country.

[bbgrunt]

29. Daschle has got to go--NOW.

[Faryn Balyncd]

31. D - - U - - M - - P - - - - - - - - - - D - - A - - S - - C - - H - - L - - E !

Heath care "reform" that further enriches the insurance companies responsible for driving up the cost of health care will make eventual SINGLE PAYER reform MORE DIFFICULT.

Daschle is the insurance companies wet dream, and is an impediment to real reform (Single Payer Healthcare-for-all)

[Triana]

33. Obama needs to DUMP this chump! Going to whitehouse.gov and telling him so

(not that he reads that stuff)

WHY the hell didn't he pick Dr. Dean?

[tilsammans]

49. I had heard that Dean didn't want it, but . . .

. . . I don't know if Obama ever approached him in the first place.

wHAteVeR. It's time to right the wrong that's been done!

[marew]

54. I already did! n/t

[Triana]

35. HERE:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact /
_ _ _ _ _

Drop down: I have a non-policy question

RE: Sec'y HHS

Considering Tom Daschle's dishonesty here (tax problem):
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/20...

Please change your choice to Howard Dean for Secy of HHS. Dr. Dean would be a much more appropriate and less damaging choice for this post.

With all due respect, Tom Daschle is not the best choice for this position for other reasons as well, and his dishonesty adds to those reasons.

Regards,

[nightrain]

36. Yep, Dr Dean would be a far better choice if Obama has the guts to do it.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

37. I always thought

he talked out of both sides of his mouth as a Senator. He caved time after time, too.

[antimatter98]

43. To be on Obama's team you must owe lots of back taxes and not tell about it. n/t

[Frank Booth]

44. The tax issues are bad, and I'm even more troubled by this information:

As a politician, Mr. Daschle often struck a populist note, but his financial disclosure report shows that in the last two years, he received $2.1 million from a law firm, Alston & Bird; $2 million in consulting fees from a private equity firm run by a major Democratic fundraiser, Leo Hindery Jr. (which provided him with the car and driver); and at least $220,000 for speeches to health care, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. He also received nearly $100,000 from health-related companies affected by federal regulation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/us/politics/01daschle...


I agree with everyone else here that it's time to cut him loose.

[Runcible Spoon]

57. I don't know why anybody is surprised. The henhouse now officially has more foxes than chickens.

Whatever actual liberals that ARE in the administration are in low-power appointments. Sigh. Good PR, bad policy...

[droidamus2]

45. Possibly misleading

The quotes hear make it sound that Daschle was 'aware of the taxes' but didn't do anything about it until he was nominated. I have read other articles that say Daschle made the Senate Finanace Committee staff aware in June that he might owe taxes on the transportation perks he had received. Again the intimate that the only reason he paid up was due to the nomination, but unless he knew Obama was going to win and nominate him why would he bring it up in June. The idea being that the committee then had to verify that he indeed did owe the taxes. His original intent was to just include the taxes and penalties in his 2008 tax return but due to his nomination he went ahead a paid up. Would it be better if his accountant had been more on the ball, of course. We with much simpler lives and tax records may not realize how complicated it can be to determine what is taxable and what is not. If I was Daschle I think I would get a new accountant.

[Abq_Sarah]

87. His accountant isn't the problem

He can only work with the information Daschle provides.

[tbyg52]

46. K,R,&done. nt

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

48. even $300,000 is less than 6% of his earnings

it's not like he was a paid lobbyist who counted on them for his livelihood.

The bigger question is, 'did he report the income?'!

[bvar22]

50. Problems?

These sound like credentials for the "change" team.

[marew]

53. What bothers me a lot...

Around 1980 my son, just out of HS, was in the marines. One day I got the nastiest, most obnoxious call from the IRS. They were looking for my son and the guy was furious, just livid and nasty. My son had paid his taxes but failed to report a less than $30 payment from someone he'd helped for a weekend. This guy jumped all over me and it wasn't even my taxes. I told him my son is on navy ship, whatever the name was, in the middle of the Mediterranean. The jerk never even slowed down with all kinds of threats. For less than $30!!!! Gosh, would that have even put him in a higher tax bracket? I know he'd never gotten the form and the IRS jerk screamed at me that it was HIS responsibility to get it and there'd be penalties! Sailing around the Med for many months makes it a bit difficult to track someone down like that. And I did not deserve the verbal abuse! So excuse me if I get a bit upset when Obama welcomes people into his administration who have MAJOR tax issues. Politics as usual. Rules for "them" and very, very different rules for the rest of us. A bit hypocritical maybe?

[Gin]

58. he should not get the post......he obviously thinks the rules are for

the little people....

Calling Dr. Dean! It should go to you!

[eleny]

59. "...but did not inform the Obama transition team until weeks after Mr. Obama named him..."

This gives Obama the way to amend his choice for the post. They can save face based on this.

[rvablue]

65. And it's not as if Progressives/Dems are going to issue with his replacement:

Dr. Dean.

[eleny]

70. you've got that right

[GoddessOfGuinness]

60. Never liked Daschle...

Too much of a rethuglican wienie-kisser for my taste.

[davidinalameda]

61. the nomination needs to be pulled

tomorrow, if not today

[DissedByBush]

62. Praises of integrity from Bob Dole?

Get rid of him. Now. Bob Dole knows a thing or two about being bought off by an industry.

[goforit]

63. Daschle was the wrong pick from the start. Let him go Obama....Make him resign!

[dpbrown]

72. This is the same kind of devious secretiveness that cost the New Mexico governor his job with Obama

This should doom Daschle. And good riddance.

Select Howard Dean.

And fuck the DLC.

[Jakes Progress]

91. But the republicans

don't want to go after Daschle. They want him at HSS.

[dpbrown]

96. Another reason why he shouldn't be there

He's anti-national health care and pro-health insurance.

What a dumbass person to head HHS.

[Jakes Progress]

111. The scary part is how he got the nom.

Was the administration so deaf, dumb, and blind that they didn't know Daschle's history with med and pharma? That would be bad. But worse would be their knowing and not caring.

[prolesunited]

76. I think it's time for Daschle to step down to spend more time with his family

And I don't think Obama should accept anything less than loyalty and full disclosure from his Cabinet. It doesn't sound like he was upfront with Obama.

[lonestarnot]

77. Bye bye cheater.

[BlueIdaho]

79. Just once - can't we find a new face? How the heck is this

Change we can believe in???????

[mzmolly]

83. I will say, I favor Dean over Daschle. And, I think Daschle should have disclosed

any issue he had about taxes (in spite of the fact that having to pay back taxes is quite commmon.) However, the questions raised, surrounding Tom Daschle do not mean he lacks "honesty and integrity". Tax laws are confusing at times, and he, like Franken likely got bad advice or had an honest misunderstanding of the law in this regard.

Regarding the money he got from "the industry" ... IMHO, this is more of an issue with how Washington works, than with Daschle, per se. Who in Washington hasn't received money from the Health Care Lobby?

So, while I personally prefer Dean to Daschle, I wont insinuate that Daschle is unworthy of his appointment because of the questions raised above. I also don't think that the USA today's assertion that Obama said he'd run an administration "free of outside influence" is entirely accurate?

I think the USA today should spare us the feigned outrage. Daschle is not corrupt because he owes back taxes, and he's not unique because he got a bit o' cash from health care profiteers.

That said, I'm glad Obama seeks change and less influence from corporate profiteers, period.

/rambling mish mash

[depakid]

95. "Tax laws are confusing at times"

While that's true, this particular matter is a no brainer- one that everyone knows or ought to know should be included as gross income. It doesn't take an accountant to figure it out.

[mzmolly]

103. I

disagree.

[wiley]

84. Daschle is a huge mistake

We'll get universal health insurance access and the insurance industry will get even richer. We've already been sold out. May as well just move on. The Pukes and their corporate masters have Obama lapping out of their filthy little water bowl.

[Romulox]

89. Well, thank goodness there are no lobbyists in Obama's inner circle! nt

[unkachuck]

97. hit the road, Tom....

....and let the Good Doctor take your place....outside of the improvement, we'd never know the difference....

[CONN]

98. Change!?

Think!!!

[Life Long Dem]

99. Daschle has a credibility issue that would be cleaned up without him.

[Political Heretic]

104. Daschle needs to STEP A-FUCKING-SIDE

[bajamary]

107. Change We Can Believe In

Okay Nation, I guess this is the "Change We Cab Believe" In.

Only people like myself and millions of other smart Americans (aka little people) actually pay taxes and actually know how to pay them without being the Chief of the NY Federal Reserve, or work for high powered lobbyists, or defense contractors, or are under investigation by Federal Grand Jury.

The buck stops right now.

Mr Obama - Tear down that elite tax evasion wall you've been using !

Transparency actually means transparency.

[RamboLiberal]

110. Time for Daschle to drop out

Like a lot of you I'd like to see Dr. Dean or someone with more integrity and guts in the position. Obama is doing damage to his administration by continuing to back Daschle.