Karen Thurman: “I would say to our chairman that I think one of the issues here is that we are really trying to get an opportunity to…”

“I would say to our chairman that I think one of the issues here is that we are really trying to get an opportunity to debate this issue, and not under the consent calendar, and to move it along in a different manner. I would also bring in today that we had a hearing in the Subcommittee on Oversight that I know the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) and others have worked very hard on, and I want to remind the body that this bill is actually called the Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act, which I think is important for us to understand. I was concerned when I went to this hearing today because there have been some articles over the last couple of days that talk about Affluent Avoid Scrutiny on Taxes Even as IRS Warns of Cheating. In my own newspaper at home, Poorly Aimed Audits: The IRS is giving more scrutiny to the returns of the working poor than to those of wealthy people who have formed partnerships or special corporations. It is just not fair and it makes little sense. I think the point that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) is making is that we are not going to have another Taxpayers Protection Act come out of this House. We are not going to have the opportunity to debate this again.”