DON’T ANY OF THESE PEOPLE PAY THEIR TAXES? (CONT’D): Tax Problems Surface for Trade Rep. Nominee Kirk. “Former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, who is President Obama’s nominee to be the U.S. Trade Representative, failed to pay almost $10,000 in taxes during the past three years because of a series of mistakes, the Senate Finance Committee announced today. Kirk’s errors involved honoraria from speeches, on which he should have paid taxes; the cost of sports games, for which he deducted too much; and improper treatment of accounting fees on his income taxes. Kirk has agreed to file amended returns.”

No mention of any penalty there. Think the rest of us would get such a pass? Plus this: “The news about Kirk’s mistakes comes as tax-related issues have become a topic of great sensitivity for the administration, following incidents with several high-profiled appointees whose nominations were threatened or derailed because of tax mistakes.” Gee, do you think?

UPDATE: “Not another one!”