No tax problems or other personal skeletons have fallen out of King County Executive Ron Sims' closet since he was nominated by President Obama to become second in command of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, so he shouldn't have any problem receiving confirmation from the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee endorsed his nomination this week.
But some Republicans are roughing Sims up.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., best known in some parts of the country for his part in the "D.C. Madam" prostitution scandal two years ago, blasted Sims for telling him one day that he couldn't comment on a public-record lawsuit against King County but the next day answering a video-camera carrying reporter's questions about the suit.

Sims, who was a defendant in Armen Yousoufian's successful lawsuit seeking damages over the county's sluggish response to a public-disclosure request, told the reporter he didn't conceal any documents, "never was involved" in the suit and ordered documents released.

Vitter issued a statement after that interview, which said in part, "President Obama has pledged to ensure transparency in his administration, but Mr. Sims' responses to me and to the TV crew just don't seem to be in keeping with that promise. Court records clearly detail his involvement."

Sims' appointment seems so certain that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has hired two of his aides: Jim Lopez, who's already gone to Washington, and Maura Brueger, who begins work at HUD May 11.