Trade Rep. Nominee To Pay Back Taxes
U.S. Trade Representative nominee Ron Kirk will pay $10,000 in back taxes, the Senate Finance Committee said today.
The Associated Press reports that "the committee said the taxes arise from Kirk's handling of speaking fees that he donated to his alma mater, and for his deduction of the full cost of season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team."
Kirk joins Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle, and chief performance officer pick Nancy Killefer on the list of Obama nominees with tax issues. Daschle and Killefer withdrew from consideration after their tax problems came to light.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Max Baucus says that tax problems or no, Kirk is "the right person for this job," vowing to try to move his nomination through the committee quickly.