George S. May Business Blog

Tom Daschle steps down amid tax debt accusations, grim day for American healthcare reform

Tom Daschle withdrew his name earlier today, Tuesday, February 03, 2009 as President Obama’s nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department. This startling decision was all the more surprising as his announcement came only hours after the withdrawal of another candidate for a high White House office, Nancy Killefer, his choice for chief White House performance officer. I was especially shocked because it was less than 24 hours ago that President Obama publicly promised to stand behind Daschle. After hearing the news today, the president said he accepted Mr. Daschle’s sudden departure “with sadness and regret.”

Although there have been no signs that either of the nominee’s were persuaded to step down, with three of his nominees for high White House office being exposed for tax arrears in the last week alone, it is quite likely that somebody close to Obama may have had a word with the two.

Nonetheless, Mr. Daschle’s decision to step aside came as somewhat of a surprise on Capitol Hill, where Democratic senators had rallied behind him after he had expressed regret over his failure to pay about $140,000 in taxes when they were due, and on Monday had vowed to press ahead. “The Daschle nomination is the highest-level political casualty of the young Obama administration” said the New York Times.

“They both decided that their nominations would distract,” Robert Gibbs, White House spokesman, said at a news briefing.

Obama’s commentary echoes my exact feelings on the subject:

“Tom Daschle has devoted his life to public service and health care reform, so that every American has access to health care they can afford. I had hoped that he could bring this passion and expertise to bear to finally achieve that goal, which is so essential to the progress of our economy and the well-being of businesses and families across out nation…Tom made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged. He has not excused it, nor do I. But that mistake and this decision cannot diminish the many contributions tom has made to this country.”

Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, said in a statement that he regretted Mr. Daschle’s withdrawal. “Today is not a good day for the cause of health care reform,” Mr. Kerry said.

I absolutely agree, Tom Daschle has spent the majority of his later years in life concentrating on healthcare reform. He was absolutely qualified for the job. Although Daschle is gone now, hopefully Daschle’s ideology on healthcare reform will remain with whoever replaces him.

Related posts:

1. Geithner to testify in front of Ed Towns, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee In a hearing scheduled for Jan 27, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has been called upon to appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee....


2. Wells Fargo exec, Cheronda Guyton, fired after accusations of squatting in foreclosed home I recently posted a review of an article I found in the LA Times about Cheronda Guyton, a Wells Fargo exec who had been using...


3. 23 percent of American homeowners are “under water” A report conducted by First American Core Logic has just been released that estimates 23 percent, or 10.7 million, United States residential mortgages are “upside...