He paid an additional $32,491 to cover taxes and interest for a monthly payment that was not reported in 2007.
According to the committee report, InterMedia officials told committee staffers that unreported payment was the result of an employee being out on maternity leave when the May 2007 payment was processed. InterMedia had also not generated the proper tax form for Daschle at the time.
Finally, Daschle paid nearly $6,000 in taxes and interest on donations that he had improperly classified as tax-exempt charitable donations.
Backus said Daschle and his wife had believed their donations to a wounded Iraq war veteran were tax-deductible. While Obama's vetting team reviewed Daschle's tax records, however, they discovered the payment had not gone through a qualifying charity.
Daschle has thus far paid a total of $140,167 in back taxes and interest, according to the draft committee report.
After news of the tax issues leaked Friday evening, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement supporting the Obama nominee.
"The president has confidence that Sen. Daschle is the right person to lead the fight for healthcare reform," Gibbs said.
A month ago, Obama's pick for Commerce secretary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, withdrew his name from consideration because of an investigation of a campaign donor who had obtained state contracts. Whether Daschle will face greater difficulties with members of the Senate remains unclear.
Republican committee staff members are continuing to look into Daschle's travel on a corporate jet owned by education loan provider EduCap Inc., according to one staffer who was not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.
And Iowa Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee who is leading the inquiry, has been careful in recent days to avoid discussing Daschle's prospects.
Friday, his spokeswoman Jill Gerber issued a statement pledging an open process.
"Sen. Grassley's position for this nomination is the same as it has been for every other nomination processed by the Finance Committee since 2001, that all relevant information about a nominee must be made public in order for the confirmation process to go forward in the committee," she said.
The committee, which will meet privately with Daschle on Monday, has yet to schedule a confirmation hearing.
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noam.levey@latimes.com
