Treasury chief hearing scheduled

The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing next Wednesday on the nomination of Timothy Geithner, President-elect Barack Obama’s pick for Treasury chief.
   
As a result, Geithner won’t be able to be confirmed in time to take office next Tuesday, when Obama is sworn into office.
   
Democrats and Republicans on the panel are voicing support for Geithner despite revelations this week that he failed to pay $34,000 in taxes several years ago. And, panel chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, says Geithner’s confirmation is “a given.“
   
Utah Republican Sen. Orrin G. Hatch calls his tax problems “a mistake that a human being can make,“ and Kansas Republican Pat Roberts says he’ll probably vote to confirm Geithner.
   
Geithner has paid back the taxes he owed.