Charles Boustany

Whether the underfunding of State and local pension plans is $700 billion or over $3 trillion, it is a serious concern for workers and retirees, for State and local governments, and for taxpayers in general.

So does the 4.95 percent go to the grantor trust, does it go to AARP, Inc.?

Could not expect to satisfy the requirements for tax-exempt status if they deliberately excluded nonmembers or free riders.

AARP was created with the praiseworthy and noble goal of promoting independence, dignity and enhancing the quality of life for older Americans.

There is good reason to question whether AARP is primarily looking out for seniors or just its own bottom line.

I want to make clear a previous comment I made about Mr. Levin's approval of the IRS detailee that I spoke of earlier in our discussion.

I find that hard to accept.

We are here to make national policy. We are certainly not here--none of us are saying this, I hope--to make AARP policy.

I think there are legitimate questions that call into question whether there is a violation of for-profit or nonprofit status.

AARP has forgotten where they come from, because once you get into the business of making money with the devil, you forget your mission.

Very important questions, and certainly know we have a current body of law that needs to be followed with regard to whether an organization qualifies as tax-exempt or not.

And I think it is important for us to make sure that if you are going to try to tell the public that they should not have to pay the same level of taxes that a for-profit enterprise pays, that it should be for a good reason.

I thank the gentleman. Thank you, Commissioner Shulman, for appearing before the subcommittee.

And clearly, the IRS is the agency, the entity that is best positioned to make that determination, to enforce the law.

I share the gentleman's concerns. I think they are very legitimate.

The IRS must simultaneously respect the rights of taxpayers, provide assistance to the millions of taxpayers who have questions about their taxes, and go after those who cheat the system.

Every year taxpayers face a Tax Code of growing complexity.

The National Taxpayer Advocate's recent report to Congress provided some alarming facts on what the federal Tax Code has become.

I think CBO estimates that the 10-year cost for the IRS is going to be somewhere in the $5 billion to $10 billion range.

When the IRS commissioner himself is requiring, you know, professional assistance to deal with the Tax Code, I think that is a statement in and of itself

With so many struggling through a tough economy, it's important we remember that the IRS affects every household and business across the country.

Among the biggest contributors to this problem is the new health care law.

The subcommittee will come to order.

When we think about burdens on small businesses, I have to harken back to the burdens that the new health care law is going to add on small businesses, large businesses and on job creation in this country.

Natural gas and petroleum products. And if you shut down our natural gas production, then our companies, which have a price--on a basis of price, we can compete because we have cheap natural gas here in this country compared to around the…