Former Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle has pulled out of consideration as the Obama administration nominee for the post of Health and Human Services secretary.
Daschle, a Democrat who represented South Dakota in the Senate, had come under fire in connection with allegations that he failed to pay taxes on free use of a car.
Daschle also has been criticized for accepting fees to talk about his views on health policy at gatherings sponsored by industry organizations such as America's Health Insurance Plans, Washington.
A reporter asked Monday during the daily White House press briefing about the possible effects of Daschle's tax concerns on efforts to change the U.S. health finance system.
