WASHINGTON (AP) -- Treasury Secretary-designate Tim Geithner (GYT'-nur) says he was careless in failing to pay $34,000 in Social Security and Medicare taxes earlier this decade and has apologized to Congress.
At his confirmation hearing, Geithner called the transgressions "careless mistakes" and unavoidable ones.
He told the Senate Finance Committee the failure to pay was "unintentional." But he also said, "I should have been more careful."
Earlier, committee Chairman Max Baucus said he thought that Geithner had made "disappointing mistakes" but also said he needed to be confirmed so he could get to work on solving the country's financial crisis.
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