By
Jon Reid
January 24, 2017 at 1:57 pm ET
Rep. Mick Mulvaney, President Donald Trump’s choice to direct the Office of Management and Budget, wooed Republicans during his testimony Tuesday on Capitol Hill, while Democrats voiced unease with his fiscal conservatism and past personal tax issues.
At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Budget Committee, the South Carolina Republican vowed, if confirmed, to push to reduce the nation’s debt, reform entitlement programs and end wasteful spending.
“I believe as a matter of principle that the debt is a problem that must be addressed sooner rather than later,” Mulvaney, a founding member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, said in his opening remarks. “I also know that fundamental changes are necessary in the way Washington spends and taxes if we truly want a healthy economy.”
Mulvaney also offered an explanation for how he failed to pay more than $15,000 in taxes for a nanny from 2000 to 2004. Similar tax problems have sunk nominees to previous administrations.
Mulvaney is also scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee later today. Here are the highlights from the Budget Committee hearing: