Chuck Schumer doesn’t audit every nominee according to the same set of rules.
Back in 2009, the Democratic New York senator overlooked Timothy Geithner’s $35,000 unpaid tax bill and voted to confirm President Obama’s nominee for Treasury secretary. With his support, Geithner was confirmed by a vote of 60-34.
But eight years later and now minority leader, Schumer’s no longer so generous. Schumer just called on Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., to remove his name from consideration to be director of the Office of Management and Budget after it came to light that the Trump nominee failed to pay $15,000 in taxes for his children’s nanny.
“When other previous cabinet nominees failed to pay their fair share in taxes, Senate Republicans forced those nominees to withdraw from consideration,” Schumer said in a statement. “If failure to pay taxes was disqualifying for Democratic nominees, then the same should be true for Republican nominees.”
It’s not clear what effect Mulvaney’s tax bill will have on his chances of confirmation. Republicans control the chamber, and thanks to Harry Reid’s decision to go nuclear, they can confirm the aspiring OMB director with a simple majority.
Headed into his confirmation hearing next Tuesday, Mulvaney has two things going for him.
First, Mulvaney came clean about his nanny tax lapse. The South Carolina businessman acknowledged that he didn’t pay FICA taxes from 2000-2004 for the childcare employee. That creates a strong contrast with Geithner, who waited until after he was audited by the IRS.
And second, Schumer’s attacks aren’t likely to sway the Republican majority.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
