Killefer withdraws nomination over tax issues

Source: CNN Political Ticker

From CNN Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Nancy Killefer withdrew her nomination Tuesday to become chief performance officer, a new post in President Barack Obama's administration, a White House spokesman told CNN.

Officials said privately the reason for the withdrawal was unspecified tax issues.

The withdrawal is an embarrassment to the White House, as the much-touted post was aimed at scrubbing the federal budget.

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Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/03/killefer-withdraws-nomination-over-tax-issues/

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More here: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/citing-tax-troubles-an-obama-appointee-withdraws/?hp

We were audited a few years back, and had to pay back taxes, but it didn't affect my employment. After that we always used an accountant..and he filed late one year. I guess I'm a tax-cheat!

Or like Indy car racer Helio Castroneves, did they rely on slick tax advisers to evade taxes and defraud the US government?

I guess you've never been audited.

or to have many deductions or investments of any sort. It must be nice to have a job with benefits and 401k plan.

and have just barely made it into middle class. No health benefits, no retirement, no assets. It can happen to you too.

Even though my husband's job title was (at the time), "Equestrian Manager" for a govt facility, the IRS said he wasn't an "equestrian professional".

Got hit for penalties and backtaxes. We hired an attorney too and still lost. Then of course, the IRS goes after the previous year's taxes and the year after that (essentially auditing 3 years cause they know you've claimed the same stuff and so once you lose, they get you).

For many, many, many, many years, the IRS ONLY went after low to low-middle income people because the very wealthy can afford the best tax preparers, so low income people are easy pickings (as our tax attorney said).

We're "horse people". A big red flag for tax crime according to our tax attorney and why we were flagged.

The IRS has had several years of underemployment but I expect as the fed govt gets squeezed, revenue collectors (the IRS) will wind up again and I bet we're going to hear a lot of horror stories about people who get audited even though they are below the poverty line. And lose. And get levied so much more money than they can possibly pay. And begin a vicious cycle.... About 2 decades ago there were Congressional hearings into IRS abuse and it's terrible.

per Time Magazine: "The former McKinsey consultant faced a $900 lien in 2005 on her home for not paying taxes on household help"

And closer to home, don't we have the same problem with payroll taxes not being paid on laborers?

It is not hard to pay the taxes and it is really important to do for the person doing the work. This is also a values issue.

...had to fill out those forms that basically ask how many guns you own, who you've had sex with, and if there's anything dangling out there that will embarrass the President.

I'll bet we'll find all sorts of nonsense that was *forgotten*. We can start with Boehner and McConnell -- and audit them for the previous 10 years or so.

Everybody in DC ,on both sides of the aisle,is a crook.It is the end of ethics in our country.It is, and has been for some time ,a grab the money and run country.Anyone who thinks this is just one party is delusional.This is a circus.Obama ,IMHO,will make little progress.

as well as people on each side who either break the rules or cut it very very close.

I'm tired of the crooks stinking up the administration.

maintaining their own power. And a lot of Americans want these people to be in charge of important parts of our lives.

Welllllll....she would not get raked over the coals if she did not have these problems. Blaming the Senate in advance is being a victim.



http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/03/obama-team-was-fully-aware-of-killefer-tax-issues/

February 3, 2009
Obama team was fully aware of Killefer tax issues
Posted: 01:32 PM ET

From CNN National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin


(CNN) — A senior administration official says the tax issues surrounding former chief performance officer nominee Nancy Killefer are "a little more complicated" than some reports have suggested.

There are actually a few tax issues — all in equally small amounts, all related to household help. Killefer’s withdrawal came after the Obama team spoke with people on the Hill, and came to believe the Senate would rake her over the coals as the third Obama nominee with a tax issue.

This official says the vetting team was aware of all Killefer’s tax issues, and that she was immediately forthcoming about them. Going back to the fall, the transition had decided they wanted her for this role when they unveiled the economic team, but held off on announcing her while they determined if they were comfortable with her tax issues. They decided they were, and announced Killefer about two weeks after the rest of the team........

Anyone with any tax issues certainly wouldn't be good at their job no matter what it is. .

:sarcasm:

When elites hide their tax avoidance and pretend it was all just a simple mistake, I immediately wonder what other corners they would cut, and what else would be withheld from public knowledge. People of such demonstrated inability to discipline themselves should not be placed in positions of high trust.

You appear to think it's about skill. Skill is neutral, and can be used for good ends or bad ends. The real determinant is character. The sorry slate of "ethically challenged" candidates we've seen so far has been notably deficient in that.