Via the NYT: Kerik Withdraws Name for Homeland Security Chief.
The reason? It’s the dreaded Domestic Worker problem that has bitten many who have come before:
In a surprise move, former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik abruptly withdrew his nomination as President Bush’s choice to be homeland security secretary Friday night, saying questions have arisen about the immigration status of a housekeeper and nanny he employed.[...]
Kerik said the problematic issue arose as he was completing documents required for Senate confirmation. “I uncovered information that now leads me to question the immigration status of a person who had been in my employ as a housekeeper and nanny. It has also been brought to my attention that for a period of time during such employment required tax payments and related filings had not been made.”
Not good when you are to be the guy in charge of border security…
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December 10th, 2004 at 11:06 pm
Well… at least he had the integrity to pull himself out instead of trying to cover it up and go for it anyway. If you call that integrity?!?
December 10th, 2004 at 11:25 pm
The modern day equivalent of “walk a mile in my shoes”: take a look at the tax regs for household employees before you go for the guy’s throat . . .
I’m a tax preparer, and I find them so complex as to be almost unworkable. For instance, if you pay someone less than $1,000 per year, you are not allowed (not just not required, but not ALLOWED) to report them as a household employee . . . but if you do pay them more than $1,000, you have to pay both parts of the FICA/Medicare tax for them - the employer and employee. So either you have to psychically know that you will pay them more than $1,000, and withhold FICA from their wages, or else you have to just grin and bear it when you end up paying them almost 8 percent more than you planned to.
And - if you decide to be cautious and withhold it anyway - if you don’t go over that $1,000 threshold, you have to refund the money and tell them “Sorry, you’re an independent contractor this year, here’s your money, now go pay someone three times as much as usual to file a Schedule C for you.”
I’m amazed that there is anyone who can make it through the confirmation process at all.
December 10th, 2004 at 11:52 pm
I hope his nanny was really hot!
And that she pranced around the house in garters and a French maid’s outfit.
Ooo-la-la!
December 11th, 2004 at 3:57 am
Bernard Kerik Pays For Hiring An Illegal Alien, Withdraws DHS Nomination
I’m not sure if Bernard Kerik knew his housekeeper was an illegal alien or not, but as the Police Commissioner of New York City you figure he’d do his homework. I think the man is qualified for the position of…
December 11th, 2004 at 4:02 am
Bernard Kerik Pays For Hiring An Illegal Alien, Withdraws DHS Nomination
I’m not sure if Bernard Kerik knew his housekeeper was an illegal alien or not, but as the Police Commissioner of New York City you figure he’d do his homework. I think the man is qualified for the position…
December 11th, 2004 at 4:03 am
Bernard Kerik Pays For Hiring An Illegal Alien, Withdraws DHS Nomination
I’m not sure if Bernard Kerik knew his housekeeper was an illegal alien or not, but as the Police Commissioner of New York City you figure he’d do his homework. I think the man is qualified for the position of…
December 11th, 2004 at 4:19 am
Bernard Kerik Pays For Hiring An Illegal Alien, Withdraws DHS Nomination
I’m not sure if Bernard Kerik knew his housekeeper was an illegal alien or not, but as the Police Commissioner of New York City you figure he’d do his homework. I think the man is qualified for the position…
December 11th, 2004 at 4:22 am
Bernard Kerik Pays For Hiring An Illegal Alien, Withdraws DHS Nomination
I’m not sure if Bernard Kerik knew his housekeeper was an illegal alien or not, but as the Police Commissioner of New York City you figure he’d do his homework. I think the man is qualified for the position of…
December 11th, 2004 at 4:30 am
Bernard Kerik Pays For Hiring An Illegal Alien, Withdraws DHS Nomination
I’m not sure if Bernard Kerik knew his housekeeper was an illegal alien or not, but as the Police Commissioner of New York City you figure he’d do his homework. I think the man is qualified for the position of…
December 11th, 2004 at 6:49 am
Nanny, Nanny, Nanny, Nanny, Batman!
Holy poetic justice, Commissioner!
I’m not sure how employment works in the US, but over here in the UK you have to provide your National Insurance Number before you can be paid - or, if you are an immigrant, you must present a work permit to pro…
December 11th, 2004 at 6:49 am
Nanny, Nanny, Nanny, Nanny, Batman!
Holy poetic justice, Commissioner!
I’m not sure how employment works in the US, but over here in the UK you have to provide your National Insurance Number before you can be paid - or, if you are an immigrant, you must present a work permit to pro…
December 11th, 2004 at 8:27 am
Kerik Steps Aside
From the BBC: The man chosen by President George W Bush to take over as the new US homeland security secretary has withdrawn his nomination. The pull-out came after Mr Kerik uncovered tax and immigration problems relating to his employment
December 11th, 2004 at 10:37 am
At least she wasn’t Fran Drescher
What is this country coming to if an illegal nanny can force a nominee to step down? I mean, hell, illegal nannies are more popular than livestrong braclets. I don’t think it takes Sherlock Holmes to figure out there is…
December 11th, 2004 at 10:49 am
My own, largely unheralded, Kerik post
One of the problems about writing for a group blog such as RedState is that the news can feel first come, first served.