The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

White House staff and outside aides who assisted Treasury Secretary nominee Henry Paulson with his murder boards were holding their breath on Tuesday during his confirmation hearing.

According to sources familiar with the prep sessions with Paulson, the former Wall Street executive and well-known supporter of and financial contributor to Democrats could not get in line with the Bush administration's support for ending the estate or "death" tax, and permanent extension of the capital gains tax and other tax cuts that are due to expire in the next three years.

"He does not personally support them or believe in them," says a person familiar with Paulson's thinking. "And during the murder boards he kept presenting his personal views and not those of the Treasury Department or President Bush. It was a challenge to get him thinking like a team player."

Maybe they should forget about getting him to think like a "team player" and get someone who thinks if not like a fiscal conservative, then at least a Republican.

Paulson is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate, though his performance in the Senate left much to be desired. His comments regarding tax policy were in line with comments made by other Treasury officials before Congressional bodies.