Rep. Mick Mulvaney throughout his legislative career took a hard line on unpaid taxes for government employees and officials – a backdrop to his own tax issue as he prepares for his Tuesday confirmation hearing.

Both in his time as a state lawmaker and in Congress, the South Carolina Republican has supported four different pieces of legislation that barred either government employees or public servants from serving in their roles if they had any outstanding tax debts or liens.

That stands in contrast with the situation Mulvaney now finds himself in: He disclosed to a Senate committee that he had owed more than $15,000 in