Connie Mack: “I thank the Chair. Last week, thanks to the leadership of Finance Committee Chairman Roth, Congress resumed the first…”

“I thank the Chair. Last week, thanks to the leadership of Finance Committee Chairman Roth, Congress resumed the first meaningful IRS oversight hearings we have conducted in decades. The testimony we heard reinforced the impression of a rogue agency that is literally out of control. As was the case when the oversight hearings began in September, some of what we heard was shocking, much of it was saddening, and all of it was angering. Witnesses testified to incidents of IRS abuse and of blatant misuse of IRS power that are simply unacceptable. I recall in particular the story of one taxpayer who could not be at the hearings in person but was represented by his former attorney. The reason the taxpayer could not attend was that he was literally hounded to death by the IRS. The 61-year-old taxpayer had been suffering from severe health problems. He had heart disease and was weakened by cancer. The IRS revenue officer assigned to his case was informed that the taxpayer could not physically withstand stressful situations but, with the support of his supervisor and the chief of collections, persisted in aggressive and intimidating tactics. I want to make this clear now about the IRS being well aware of the health conditions of the taxpayer. They had a letter, I believe, from the physician that was sent to them informing them of the condition of the taxpayer, and yet they persisted in aggressive and intimidating tactics.”