November 19th, 2009, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today urged members of the Senate Finance Committee to defeat and place legislative holds on Barack Obama’s nominee for undersecretary of the Treasury for international affairs, Lael Brainard.
“Since the Obama Administration’s vetting is still yielding tax cheats for top Treasury posts, Lael Brainard needs to be made an example of by the Senate Finance Committee,” said Wilson. “More and more, honest taxpayers are not represented by this Administration.”
According the Associated Press, Brainard “was late in paying real estate taxes in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The report by the Senate Finance Committee staff also challenges the accuracy of a deduction Brainard claimed for running an office from her home. The challenge led Brainard to reduce the deduction on her 2008 return.”
Brainard, reports the AP, was not forthcoming to the committee: “The committee’s top Republican is unhappy that the committee staff had to submit 10 sets of questions to Brainard before getting complete information about the discrepancies.”
“Enough is enough with the tax cheats in the Obama Administration,” said Wilson. “Now is the time for the Finance Committee to send a clear message that ever appointment, especially Treasury officials, need to pay their taxes on time and in full.”
“This is the fifth Obama nomination to have tax troubles,” Wilson noted. “Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s nomination was nearly derailed because of it. Trade Representative Ron Kirk failed to pay $10,000 in taxes and only filed an amended return after the Finance Committee noted the discrepancies.”
Wilson continued, noting, “Tom Daschle’s nomination to be Department of Health and Human Services Secretary was withdrawn over these issues. Nancy Killefer withdrew her nomination for not paying employment taxes for household help.”
“While the Obama Administration is imposing the largest budgetary burden ever on American taxpayers in history, it is nominating individuals who have not paid their fair share in that burden, and that needs to stop,” Wilson said, concluding, “Senators making a stand against Lael Brainard will be making a stand for all honest taxpayers.”
Interview Availability: Please contact Alex Rosenwald at (703)383-0880 or at arosenwald@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.
###