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Hey, it's okay! It's just another hiccup! Obama's team is pull of unpatriotic tax cheats! No big deal! Isn't it amazing that these tax cheats only agree to pay these taxes during the vetting process? How much "stimulus" money would we find if we vetted every politician (and yes, I'm sure many Republicans are equally guilty of "hiccups")? Remember: A tax cheat was confirmed, the tax cheat hired a lobbyist and violated the ethics rule, another lobbyist was hired that violated the ethics rule, a tax cheat withdrew her nomination, another tax cheat withdrew his nomination. Then a nominee violated...

WASHINGTON – Another Obama administration nominee has tax troubles. This time, it's Ron Kirk, the president's choice to be U.S. trade representative. Kirk owes an estimated $10,000 in back taxes from earlier in the decade and has agreed to pay them, the Senate Finance Committee said Monday. The committee said the taxes arise from Kirk's handling of speaking fees he donated to a scholarship fund that he set up at his alma mater, and for his deduction of the full cost of season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team. Kirk also agreed to make changes in his accounting...

Trade nominee Ron Kirk agrees to pay back taxes DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Reuters WASHINGTON – Ron Kirk, nominated as U.S. Trade Representative in the Obama administration, owes an estimated $10,000 in back taxes from earlier in the decade and has agreed to make his payments, the Senate Finance Committee said Monday. 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. The disclosure made the former Dallas mayor...

This time it's United State Trade Representative nominee Ron Kirk who owes back taxes, joining the ranks of other tax-addled Cabinet nominees such as Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, former Health and Human Services Secretary designate Tom Daschle, and former chief performance officer nominee Nancy Killifer. Kirk owes $9,975 in back taxes, most of that from speaking engagement honoraria. Kirk had told organizations to give speaking fees directly to his alma mater, Austin College. In all, $37,750 of honoraria were not reported as income for tax years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, the Senate Finance Committee reported, saying that Kirk should...

Add former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to the list of Obama Cabinet picks with tax problems. The Senate Finance Committee says he underpaid by $9,975 in the last three years. Senate aides uncovered the shortfall during weeks of vetting, and Kirk – the administration’s designated point person on trade -- has promised to pay the Internal Revenue Service in full. The problems: Kirk deducted too much for season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks and too much for tax preparation fees, and failed to report as income speaking fees that he donated to his alma mater, Austin College. The full political...

Obama trade nominee fixes errors in tax returns Mon Mar 2, 2009 4:22pm EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's nominee to be U.S. trade representative, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, has filed amended tax returns after a review found he failed to pay taxes on $37,750 in speaking fees he donated to his college alma mater, a Senate panel said on Monday. "Staff estimates the total tax adjustment on Mayor Kirk's amended returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007 will be approximately $9,975," the Senate Finance Committee said. Kirk also amended his tax returns to reduce the amount of business...

USTR Nominee Latest to Face Tax Problems By Jessica Brady Roll Call Staff March 2, 2009, 4:32 p.m. Former Dallas Mayor Ronald Kirk, President Barack Obama’s pick for U.S. trade representative, misfiled taxable income and owes about $9,975, according to a Senate Finance Committee report released Monday.... Developing...