HHS Secretary Nominee Sebelius Reports Tax Error As Confirmation Hearings Continue

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 02 Apr 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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HHS Secretary nominee Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) recently made corrections to three years of tax returns, paying about $7,000 in back taxes after "unintentional errors" were discovered, the AP/Google.com reports. Sebelius, who issued a letter to senators on Tuesday explaining the changes, said the corrections involved charitable contributions, the sale of a home and business expenses. The errors were discovered after Sebelius hired an accountant to examine her taxes prior to her confirmation hearings. According to the AP/Google.com, Sebelius and her husband paid a total of $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest to amend returns from 2005 to 2007. An administration official said Sebelius filed the amended returns before the Senate Finance Committee received documents finalizing her nominations, and she advised senators of the mistakes. A spokesperson for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the committee, said he would wait until the vetting process and nomination hearings are complete before making a judgment on Sebelius' confirmation. Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) issued a statement supporting Sebelius and calling her "the right person for the job" (AP/Google.com, 3/31). Baucus called for a fast confirmation process, adding that Congress will "need a strong partner" at HHS to achieve health care reform this year. Sebelius is scheduled to appear Thursday before Baucus' committee, which has jurisdiction over the confirmation (Brady, Roll Call, 3/31).

Sebelius Appears Before Senate HELP Committee

Sebelius appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday before the tax issue was made public and received a "friendly reception," the AP/Google.com reports (AP/Google.com, 3/31). During the hearing, Sebelius said that health care reform would be her "mission" and noted that high health care costs were hurting families and hindering the economy. She said, "Inaction is not an option. The status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable" (Werner, AP/Boston Globe, 3/31).

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