On Tuesday February 3rd, Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D. South Dakota) withdrew his nomination for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after coming under much scrutiny over questions of unpaid taxes. He was not the first of President Obama’s nominees to encounter tax issues during the confirmation process. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner also had to defend his personal financial record before being confirmed. Nancy Kilfer, President Obama’s nominee for chief performance officer, a position created to monitor the federal budget, also withdrew her nomination for unspecified tax issues. Daschle was also questioned with regard to his lobbying ties. For an administration that has pledged to cut down on corruption and lobbying, these problems have caused critics to question whether the President’s goals are realistic.