Washington, D.C. ? Former Sen. Tom Daschle’s failure to pay his taxes on time isn’t expected to derail his confirmation as health secretary for the Obama administration, Republicans and Democrats say.

Daschle, the South Dakota Democrat chosen to lead President Obama’s health reform efforts, recently filed amended tax returns to report $128,203 in back taxes and $11,964 in interest, according to a Senate document obtained by The Associated Press.

Daschle’s spokeswoman said Saturday that Daschle told senators about the tax problems when he met individually with his former colleagues, who asked him to let the committee disclose the tax returns.

Republicans grudgingly acknowledged that any serious damage to Daschle’s chances for confirmation in the Democratic-controlled Senate are unlikely given that Timothy Geithner’s nomination for treasury secretary, held up after it was revealed that he had failed to pay more than $34,000 in taxes, eventually was confirmed by a 60-34 vote.