National, Global News Briefs
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: News
Sebelius sixth Obama nominee to face back tax problems
Tax issues once again plague an Obama administration nominee.
According to both CNN and FOXNews, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) owes more than $7,000 in back taxes after discovering "unintentional errors" in documentation needed for business expense deductions. This makes Sebelius the sixth Obama nominee to have tax issues.
Sebelius is the current nominee by the Obama administration to become secretary of Health and Human Services.
Additionally, three letters of 49 documenting tax-deductible charitable donations could not be found. Sebelius and her husband also wrongfully deducted mortgage interest to which they were not entitled after selling their home for less than the mortgaged value and continuing payments.
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) released a statement that upheld Sebelius's nomination.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Governor Sebelius has the political experience, determination, and bipartisan work ethic to get the job done with Congress this year. She's the right person for the job and I look forward to hearing from her at the Finance Committee's hearing ..." Baucus said.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking Republican on the finance committee, stated through his spokeswoman that he would be reserving judgment on the nomination until the vetting process and nomination hearing are completed.
Tamil Tigers face defeat as fight for independence continues
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, 55 members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, fighting for Tamil independence in Sri Lanka, have been killed in land and sea battles as the country's army aims to end a 25-year civil war.
In an early morning battle, 26 tigers were killed in a sea clash, according to military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.
Senior Sea Tiger leader, known as Uththaman, was killed, according to a separate military statement.
Nanayakkara also stated that ground battles have killed 29 of the rebels after government forces attacked a fortification being constructed to defend the last strip of Tiger controlled land.
The U.N. estimates hundreds of thousands of people trapped in the Tamil-controlled territory, which results in dozens of daily deaths, however this report conflicts with the Sri Lankan government's figure.
Since 1983, the Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independent territory for the Tamil minority group. The United States currently lists the group led by Velupillai Prabhakaran, as a terrorist organization.
The government is currently controlled by the ethnic Sinhalese who, according to The New York Times, have marginalized the Tamils by declaring Sinhala the national language and forcing Buddhism as the principal religion.
-Brief by Cameron Birch
Tax issues once again plague an Obama administration nominee.
According to both CNN and FOXNews, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) owes more than $7,000 in back taxes after discovering "unintentional errors" in documentation needed for business expense deductions. This makes Sebelius the sixth Obama nominee to have tax issues.
Sebelius is the current nominee by the Obama administration to become secretary of Health and Human Services.
Additionally, three letters of 49 documenting tax-deductible charitable donations could not be found. Sebelius and her husband also wrongfully deducted mortgage interest to which they were not entitled after selling their home for less than the mortgaged value and continuing payments.
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) released a statement that upheld Sebelius's nomination.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Governor Sebelius has the political experience, determination, and bipartisan work ethic to get the job done with Congress this year. She's the right person for the job and I look forward to hearing from her at the Finance Committee's hearing ..." Baucus said.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking Republican on the finance committee, stated through his spokeswoman that he would be reserving judgment on the nomination until the vetting process and nomination hearing are completed.
Tamil Tigers face defeat as fight for independence continues
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, 55 members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, fighting for Tamil independence in Sri Lanka, have been killed in land and sea battles as the country's army aims to end a 25-year civil war.
In an early morning battle, 26 tigers were killed in a sea clash, according to military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.
Senior Sea Tiger leader, known as Uththaman, was killed, according to a separate military statement.
Nanayakkara also stated that ground battles have killed 29 of the rebels after government forces attacked a fortification being constructed to defend the last strip of Tiger controlled land.
The U.N. estimates hundreds of thousands of people trapped in the Tamil-controlled territory, which results in dozens of daily deaths, however this report conflicts with the Sri Lankan government's figure.
Since 1983, the Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independent territory for the Tamil minority group. The United States currently lists the group led by Velupillai Prabhakaran, as a terrorist organization.
The government is currently controlled by the ethnic Sinhalese who, according to The New York Times, have marginalized the Tamils by declaring Sinhala the national language and forcing Buddhism as the principal religion.
-Brief by Cameron Birch
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