Another day, another Obama Cabinet nominee facing tax issues.
USA Today reported Thursday afternoon that the husband of Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.), Obama
“We reviewed her tax returns, and her returns are in order. She’s not a partner in that business; we’re not going to penalize her for her husband’s business practices” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters at his daily press briefing this afternoon.
Solis and Sayyad were unaware of the liens until USA Today asked about them on Tuesday, and Solis had no way of knowing about the tax liens because the business is a sole proprietorship, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor told USA Today.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, which was scheduled to vote on her nomination at 2 p. today, postponed its vote. An unknown member of the committee had threatened to place a hold on the full floor vote, causing the White House to appoint a career department employee as acting secretary, according to reports.
–Samuel Rubenfeld