Senator Max Baucus, who chairs the Senate panel which has jurisdiction over trade legislation, has issued a statement supporting President Obama's nomination of former Dallas Mayor Ronald Kirk to be United States Trade Representative, despite the now familiar sound of controversy that is dogging his candidacy.
“Mayor Kirk is the right person for this job and I will work to move his nomination quickly. I am confident he can successfully restore the confidence of Congress and the American people in a balanced international trade agenda," Baucus stated.
The Montana Democrat's remarks were issued on the back of a Finance Committee report which revealed discrepancies in Kirk's tax affairs. According to this report, Kirk’s nomination team informed Finance Committee staff that in October, 2008 he paid additional tax in the amount of USD2,188 and additional interest in the amount of USD139 for tax year 2006 after he was notified by the IRS that he had failed to report a speaking honorarium of USD5,000 and dividend income of USD819. The return was prepared by a paid tax preparer and filed jointly with his wife. The IRS identified the unreported income during a routine matching of Form 1099 income with the Kirks’ tax return.
After reviewing Mayor Kirk’s tax returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007, Finance Committee staff submitted several questions regarding other aspects of his tax affairs, including his practice of assigning honoraria to Austin College and whether the honoraria should have been reported as taxable income.
Kirk has agreed to file amended returns reflecting the adjustments discussed in the finance panel report, and is expected to pay an additional USD9,975 as a result.
Kirk becomes the latest in a growing line of Obama nominees who have been questioned over their tax affairs, including Tom Daschle, who was originally nominated for the post of Health Secretary, and Tim Geithner, the current Treasury Secretary.
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