Barack Obama's Treasury Secretary nominee, Timothy Geithner  --  who did not pay his Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2001-2003  --  is confirmed by Democrat-controlled United States Senate

On Monday, the United States Senate confirmed Timonty Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury -- the 3rd most important member of the President's cabinet -- an individual who did not pay Social Security and Medicare taxes during the time he worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Yet, he will be responsible for the agency, the Internal Revenue Service, which collects delinquent taxes from other Americans.

Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama said before voting no to Geithner's nomination, "The man who wants to be the top tax collector in America hasn't paid his taxes." On the other hand, before the vote, uberpartisan Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Timothy Geithner's failure to pay $42,702 in back taxes a "hiccup."

The leader of the Senate Republicans, Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, voted against Geithner's nomination (he was confirmed 60-34 which was the worst margin of victory for a Secretary Treasury in decades.)  Senator McConnell said following the vote: "I have heard from Kentuckians over the last several days on the nomination of Timothy Geithner, and, I want to reassure them that I heard their concerns. While it is the prerogative of the President to choose his cabinet, I can’t, in good conscience, vote to confirm Mr. Geithner given the questions that still remain following his committee hearing.”