FEMA nominee faces tax return questions

WASHINGTON – Acting FEMA director R. David Paulison took questionable deductions on three years of tax returns, the agency acknowledged Wednesday, but the chairman of the Senate panel considering his nomination predicted it would not hinder his approval as permanent chief.

“I think it’s important that we get him confirmed as soon as possible,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. She described the questions as minor, but said “any irregularity is cause for concern with a presidential nominee.”

Asked if the questions would delay Paulison’s nomination, Collins said, “I don’t think it will.”

But Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee considering Paulison’s nomination, said “it’s hard to say” whether the concerns would slow the confirmation.

“I hope we can reconcile it,” Lieberman said. “But if there are any questions, we’re certainly going to err on the side of caution.”