Story highlights Mick Mulvaney admitted in he failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes 
 
 "Nobody is more qualified and more prepared to rein in Washington," Trump's team said 
 
 (CNN) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that a report that Rep. Mick Mulvaney did not pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee was "disqualifying" for him to serve as White House budget director. 
 
 "When other previous cabinet nominees failed to pay their fair share in taxes, Senate Republicans forced those nominees to withdraw from consideration," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "If failure to pay taxes was disqualifying for Democratic nominees, then the same should be true for Republican nominees." 
 
 Mulvaney admitted in a questionnaire, a portion of which was provided by a congressional source to CNN Wednesday and sent to the Senate Budget Committee that he failed to pay the taxes in question. In the questionnaire provided to CNN, Mulvaney wrote that, "Upon discovery of that shortfall, I paid the federal taxes," adding that the relevant penalties and interest "are not yet determined." 
 
 The New York Times first reported on the questionnaire Wednesday. 
 
 A source from President-elect Donald Trump's transition team told CNN that Mulvaney, who at the time was the father of newborn triplets, hired a "sitter" and didn't realize he needed to pay taxes on her income. The aide declined to say where the employee was from. 
 
 Read More ||||| FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulvaney, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the White House budget office, failed... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulvaney, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the White House budget office, failed... (Associated Press) 
 
 WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Mick Mulvaney, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to run the White House budget office, failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household worker more than a decade ago, prompting the Senate's top Democrat to issue a statement saying the lapse should disqualify his nomination. 
 
 "I have come to learn, during the confirmation review process, that I failed to pay FICA and federal and state unemployment taxes on a household employee for the years 2000-2004," Mulvaney, R-S.C., stated in a response to written questions from the Senate Budget Committee. 
 
 It was not immediately clear whether the lapse would have any effect on the confirmation of Mulvaney, a staunch conservative elected in the 2010 tea party wave. A hearing before the budget panel is scheduled for next week. Democrats opposing Mulvaney no longer retain the filibuster power that could block him. 
 
 But Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer quickly pounced, saying that tax problems have forced previous Democratic nominees for both President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama to drop out and that Mulvaney should, too. 
 
 "When other previous Cabinet nominees failed to pay their fair share in taxes, Senate Republicans forced those nominees to withdraw from consideration," Schumer said shortly after The New York Times initially reported the story. "If failure to pay taxes was disqualifying for Democratic nominees, then the same should be true for Republican nominees." 
 
 The Trump transition team provided a statement supporting Mulvaney and attacking Schumer. 
 
 "Congressman Mulvaney raised the issue surrounding the care of his premature triplets immediately upon being tapped for this position, and has taken the appropriate follow-up measures," said transition official John Czwartacki. "President-elect Trump fully stands behind Rep. Mulvaney." 
 
 In 2009, failure to pay taxes sunk Obama's choice to head the Health and Human Services Department and nearly derailed his nominee for treasury secretary. Former Sen. Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination for HHS after failing to pay back taxes of more than $100,000 he owed for a chauffeur and car service. 
 
 But former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said he made a careless mistake when he didn't pay all his taxes while working at the International Monetary Fund. He ended up paying some $40,000 in back taxes and interest. A host of top Republicans supported Geithner, including Orrin Hatch of Utah and John Cornyn of Texas. 
 
 The Trump transition statement called Schumer a "complete hypocrite" for defending Geithner eight years ago but opposing Mulvaney now. 
 
 Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky opposed Geithner in 2009, however, noting "the questions that still remain." McConnell's office had no comment regarding Mulvaney. 
 
 Earlier, during the Clinton years, nominees Zoe Baird and Kimba Woods were forced to withdraw for failure to pay taxes for household help. 
 
 Mulvaney said he repaid more than $15,000 before interest and IRS penalties and that state amounts had yet to be determined. ||||| WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for White House budget director failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee, he admitted in a statement to the Senate Budget Committee, the sort of tax compliance issue that has derailed cabinet nominees in the past. 
 
 In a questionnaire provided to the committee, Representative Mick Mulvaney, a conservative from South Carolina and vocal proponent of fiscal restraint noted, “I have come to learn during the confirmation review process that I failed to pay FICA and federal and state unemployment taxes on a household employee for the years 2000-2004.” 
 
 Mr. Mulvaney said he had subsequently paid more than $15,000 in taxes and awaits the state tax bill, as well as penalties and interests. His confirmation hearing before the committee is scheduled for Jan. 24. The employee was a babysitter hired when Mr. Mulvaney and his wife had triplets in 2000. 
 
 Attempts to reach Mr. Mulvaney’s office for comment were not successful. A spokesman for the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Michael B. Enzi, Republican of Wyoming, said he would have no immediate comment. Mr. Mulvaney will almost certainly be asked about the issue at his hearing, and Republicans on the committee are most likely aware of its existence.
– Controversy is suddenly swirling around Donald Trump's pick for White House budget director, whose confirmation hearing isn't until next week, after it was revealed he failed to pay more than $15,000 in taxes on a family nanny, the New York Times reports. Rep Mick Mulvaney employed the nanny from 2000 to 2004 after he and his wife had triplets. According to CNN, a Trump transition team spokesperson says Mulvaney didn't know he had to pay taxes on the nanny. The failure to do so was revealed in a questionnaire Mulvaney filled out for the Senate Budget Committee. He says he only realized his mistake during the confirmation process and has since paid the taxes he owes. He also says he will pay any interest or penalties as soon as they're determined. Similar failures to pay taxes derailed President Obama's pick for Health and Human Services and two of Bill Clinton's picks for attorney general, the AP reports. Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer says Mulvaney should withdraw, noting that Republicans have jumped on Democratic cabinet nominees for the same thing. "What's good for the goose is good for the gander," he tells the Times. Supporters of Mulvaney point out that Obama's pick, Tom Daschle, failed to pay nearly 10 times what Mulvaney did. And a Trump administration spokesperson says they stand behind Mulvaney, who "has taken the appropriate follow-up measures."