SALON

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 10:50 PM UTC

Sebelius pays over $7,000 in back taxes

Another of President Obama's Cabinet nominees -- this time his pick to head Health and Human Services -- discloses some old tax issues.

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Topics: War Room,

Honestly, people, how many times do I have to say it? If you want a future in politics, and especially if you want to become a Cabinet secretary, pay your damn taxes. It’s really not that hard. And if you find it too difficult to figure out exactly how much you owe, hire an accountant. Preferably a good one.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama’s pick to head Health and Human Services, is the latest of the president’s Cabinet nominees not to heed this advice. The Associated Press is reporting that Sebelius disclosed, in a letter sent to senators dated Tuesday, that she and her husband have paid $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest in amending their returns from 2005 to 2007.

Right now, it looks like these issues aren’t the kind of thing likely to derail Sebelius’ confirmation. According to the AP, most of the problems involved a lack of documentation for certain deductions; there was also a mistaken deduction for mortgage interest taken after the home was sold. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which will be holding hearings on the nomination later this week, has already spoken out in support of Sebelius.

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon. More Alex Koppelman.

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