Daschle's confirmation bogs down in committee

Former Sen. Tom Daschle's confirmation as secretary of Health and Human Services has slowed as the Republican staff on the Senate Finance Committee staff examines his tax records and his association with an education-loan provider that is under committee scrutiny. Republican committee aides stressed they haven't determined there is a problem in any of their examinations, and said it was the complexity of the issues that is slowing the process instead of a suggestion of impropriety. GOP aides said they won't schedule a confirmation hearing until they have answered their questions, which means his nomination likely won't be considered by the Finance Committee before President-elect Barack Obama is sworn into office.