Tim Huelskamp: “I thank the chairman, and I appreciate my colleague from Ohio bringing forth this important legislation. ``If men were…”

“I thank the chairman, and I appreciate my colleague from Ohio bringing forth this important legislation. ``If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.'' James Madison wrote these words 227 years ago in his 51st Federalist Paper. It is an elegant way of expressing an ugly truth, that a government of the people cannot always be trusted to do right by the people and, thus, must hold itself in check for the sake of the people. When Madison penned the Federalist Papers, it was with a fresh view of what the British Parliament did to exert government control over the lives of the colonists, leading to the famous Boston Tea Party and, ultimately, a revolution. The targeted discrimination and unfair treatment of conservative organizations with the words ``Tea Party'' and others in their names that took place at the IRS under the direction of Lois Lerner shows what happens when government no longer feels accountable to the people and when the Constitution becomes simply a list of suggestions. Agencies can then become a political weapon for one party to use against the other. It is sad that we actually have to pass legislation to address these inexcusable actions. Every employee of the IRS, of this entire Federal Government, is ultimately a public servant.…”