Sam Gibbons: “in April of 1996, a deadly tornado struck Fort Smith, Arkansas, causing widespread destruction, yet almost a full 2…”

“in April of 1996, a deadly tornado struck Fort Smith, Arkansas, causing widespread destruction, yet almost a full 2 years after this tragedy, the citizens of this town are yet again facing another terror. That is right, the IRS. IRS agents are auditing these families for not correctly reporting their casualty losses that they incurred. These folks have not been targeted by the IRS because they bilked or cheated the U.S. Government out of money by claiming fraudulent tax deductions or utilizing illegal tax shelters. These people are being audited because the IRS just does not agree with how they reported their houses were ripped from their foundations and their lives torn apart. The reprehensible actions prompted a survivor whose house was destroyed to say that ``While the death and destruction is behind us, the tornado, the IRS, is never going away.'' She said this, of course, under an agreement of anonymity, because she fears that her comments will spur further retaliation from the IRS. Outrageous, Mr. Speaker. It is time to take the fear and the terror out of the hearts of Americans. The time to overhaul the IRS is long overdue.”