Obama Nominees
President Obama`s choice to try to bring about health care
reform ran afoul of the president`s campaign to
`clean up both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.` Tom Daschle, the
former Democratic Senate majority leader, admitted
to not having paid $140,000 in back taxes and requested
that his name be withdrawn
Daschle became the third major Obama nominee to withdraw
his or her candidacy and the second on
Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Nancy Killefer, who
the president`s choice to be chief performance officer for
the federal government withdrew. Killefer had apparently
failed to pay employment taxes on a household employee.
About a month ago, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
withdrew his name due to a federal investigation into how
his political donors landed a lucrative transportation contract.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was confirmed
despite having failed to pay over $30,000 in income taxes.
The problems with getting his nominees confirmed illustrates
the ways in which individuals move between government,
business, and interest groups as well as the ethics
complications that such movements create. As Obama
said, `Our leaders have thrown open the doors of Congress
and the White House to an army of Washington lobbyists who
have turned our government into a game only they can
afford to play.` Daschle had never registered as a
lobbyist, but he made lots of money advising clients who
needed or wanted government influence government. Among
Daschle`s clients were some in the health care industry,
further complicating any reform efforts.
Health care expenditures have grown to over $2.2 trillion.
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